One Party States

RISE AND FALL
Very soon after independence, multiparty democracy gave way to the one party state or military rule. The problem with multiparty democracy was that it had led to the formation of many parties, each with a regional outlook, and none representing the interests of the country as a whole. The rise of the one party state was also influenced by the Soviet model, which declared the people and the party as one.

In the 1970's, the first self proclaimed Marxist Leninist leaders took charge in Africa, setting up one-party systems.

In 1974, the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was deposed in a revolution. He was eventually replaced by Mengistu Haile Mariam who initiated a purge of all opponents. In response Somalia under Siad Barre switched from being pro-Soviet to pro-western. It was the only country in Africa to do this under the same government.

MULTIPARTY REVIVAL
The collapse of Communism in the Eastern bloc in 1989 signalled a revival of multiparty democracy. Rulers found themselves under pressure: firstly from the people, disenchanted with the track record of single party rule, and secondly, from the IMF and the World Bank, which made it a precondition of further loans and aid.