Psychopaths in power: The curious curse of corruption in Africa

 

It is no secret; the continent of Africa is the poorest in the world today. The majority of the countries in Africa lag behind on almost every economic indicator, and as a consequence the bulk of the African population lives in abject poverty. Instead of being the most ambitious in setting developmental goals, Africa has however become a haven to some of the world’s most corrupt governments. It almost seems like Africa has no desire at all to catch up with the rest of the world.

While corruption is prevalent in other parts of the world, it has turned out to be especially contagious across Africa. Almost every country on the continent has been a victim of grand corruption schemes from past and present administrations. Tens of billions of dollars have been siphoned from government coffers, thus economic and human development has remained almost static for decades making Africa the corruption hotspot of the world. “The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The Sub-Saharan Africa average is 33, the lowest in the world, and 44 countries rank below 50. Seychelles (70) tops the region, with Cabo Verde (58) and Botswana (55) the distant runners-up.” (Transparency International, 2022).

The list of big-money scandals in which corrupt African leaders have embezzled from their own countries and stashed their gains in overseas nations is colossal. Names like the late Mobutu Sese-Seko of DRC (formerly Zaire), General Sani Abacha of Nigeria, the late Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Angola’s Eduardo Dos Santos, Sudan’s Omar Al Bashir, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea are all notorious for amassing unimaginable wealth through corruption at the expense of poor citizens.  Much of the money has found its way to safe havens in Europe, the Caribbean and of late the Middle East where much of it is expended in plush property, luxury cars, designer clothes or yachts. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission report (2019), Africa loses over 50 billion dollars annually to corruption through illicit financial outflows. Previously poor regions like Asia have seen significant positive change in governance and financial controls, which resulted in major economic shift especially post year 2000. Although developing countries elsewhere might have experienced the same levels of corruption as in Africa, much of the loot was ploughed back into the economy rather than stashed offshore.

The post-colonial era in Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan region, has witnessed unending political instability one country after another as the impoverished people rebel against the unproductive corrupt governments in power. However, the threat of rebellion seems to have done little to deter corruption and misrule. Corruption has proved an irresistible temptation even to the most promising African leaders. Surely there must be something absolutely wrong with the calibre of people who take to power across Africa.

It boggles the mind how generation after generation of leaders would loot billions from their own governments and stash them abroad while the people who voted them to power are facing starvation, and infrastructure falling apart. Only psychopaths can behave this way.

The term “psychopath” is often used to describe someone with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). The behaviour of a psychopath usually conflicts with social norms and displays an intense lack of disregard for others. Psychopaths are generally antisocial, egocentric and have a characteristic lack of remorse. They are manipulative and thrive on this to exploit other people for their own gain.

There is enough evidence to support the notion that the majority of the corrupt leaders in Africa are psychopaths. The rampant corruption by Africa’s ruling elite exposes a lot of disregard for the lives of the citizens they rule over. The poverty levels in many African countries should drive any leader to work so hard to change the situation as best as they can, but the opposite is happening. These leaders don’t love their countries, and they don’t love their people. The only thing that satisfies them is looting for their own good. The extent to which African leaders are prepared to resort to violence and sacrifice the lives of innocent people just to hold on to power also exposes the deep rot in their way of thinking.

The nature of African politics has never given chance for democracy to flourish. Many African countries are led by either revolutionary governments which have been in power since the end of colonial rule or military governments who got in power through violent military coups. These types of governments have a sense of entitlement to the countries they lead. They thrive on suppressing freedom of speech and political choice. They are unwilling to relinquish power once they capture it and fight to retain it for a long time with whatever means necessary. African politicians use deception and coercion to maintain their stranglehold on power.  “Even in the face of contrary evidence, the psychopath can lie so well that listeners doubt themselves first, rather than question the psychopath.” Paul Babiak (Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work)

This desire to keep power becomes the prime occupation of these governments more than dealing with the socio-economic problems facing the people they lead. They become corrupt to amass fortune and power, so they quickly become untouchable. The incompetence of the leadership in most African countries spreads from the top offices down to all tiers of government. Corruption quickly becomes a culture. A power distance is created between leaders in government and ordinary citizens. The citizens can no longer challenge or hold the leadership unaccountable to its actions.

While everything seems hopeless in Africa at the moment there is a silver lining on the clouds. Several African countries are really putting a stand to corruption and beginning to place more emphasis on development than personal enrichment. Countries like Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Cape Verde, Mauritius, and Rwanda have done a lot to clean their politics and discourage looting. The positive results of these efforts are already beginning to show. The big hope is that other African countries can draw inspiration from the success of the few that are beginning to experience real economic transformation and positive human development.

Before Africa can win this war over corruption it has to first find ways of reforming the political systems and install checks and balances that eliminate potentially greedy candidates before they take charge of important positions. There must be a way of exorcising the psychopaths from the high offices of power.