Achille Mbembe: challenging the narrative of African democracy and colonial legacies

Cameroonian philosopher Achille Mbembe posits that genuine democracy has never truly taken root across the African continent. In an exclusive interview, he delves into critical discussions surrounding the CFA franc, the political stagnation observed in Central African nations, and the ongoing debate concerning reparations for the slave trade.

During the 3rd edition of the African Democracy Assizes, held at the Théodore Monod Museum in Dakar, Professor Achille Mbembe, a distinguished historian, philosopher, and research scholar, shared his insights. He serves as the president of the Foundation for Innovation for Democracy, offering a sharp critique of democratic experiments in Africa. Contrary to the common perception that the continent is experiencing a crisis of democracy, Mbembe contends that, in most African countries, democracy has simply never been genuinely established.

“There cannot be a crisis of democracy where it does not exist”

For Achille Mbembe, framing Africa’s challenges as a