Why Europe Continues to Under-develop Africa: The Colonial Legacy That Never Ended

For centuries, Africa has been portrayed as a continent struggling to rise, yet often ignored is the fact that Europe’s deliberate policies—both historical and modern—have played a central role in keeping Africa under-developed. Colonialism may have officially ended, but the systems of control, resource extraction, and economic manipulation persist today.

This article explores how Europe continues to under-develop Africa and why the colonial legacy remains alive.

The Colonial Blueprint for Underdevelopment

During the colonial era, European powers structured African economies to serve their own interests. African nations were turned into sources of raw materials, while local industries were intentionally suppressed to ensure dependence on European manufacturing. This system ensured that Africa exported cheap resources and imported expensive finished goods, a cycle that continues today.

Colonial rulers also imposed artificial borders, dividing communities and creating ethnic conflicts that would later be exploited for political instability. This legacy of division continues to hinder Africa’s progress and unity.

Neocolonialism: A Modernized Exploitation

Despite gaining political independence, many African nations remain economically dependent on their former colonizers. European nations, often working through global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, impose structural adjustment programs that force African countries to adopt policies favoring foreign investment over local development. These policies result in weakened national industries, privatization of essential services, and an endless cycle of debt.

Trade agreements with Europe also keep Africa locked into exporting raw materials instead of building industries that can process and add value to them. The European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), for example, have been criticized for reinforcing Africa’s role as a supplier of raw goods while flooding African markets with European products, stifling local businesses.

France’s Grip on Francophone Africa

One of the clearest examples of European control over Africa is France’s continued economic domination of its former colonies. The CFA Franc, a currency controlled by the French treasury, limits the economic sovereignty of 14 African nations. These countries must deposit their foreign reserves in France, effectively giving Paris control over their economies. France has also been accused of intervening militarily in its former colonies whenever leaders attempt to break free from this system.

Europe’s Role in Destabilizing African Governments

Throughout Africa’s post-independence history, European powers have played a role in undermining nationalist and Pan-African leaders who sought economic independence. Leaders like Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya were all overthrown or assassinated, with Western complicity, because they sought to establish independent African economies.

Moreover, European governments and corporations support corrupt African elites who serve foreign interests at the expense of their people. By propping up dictators and weak leaders, Europe ensures that Africa remains politically unstable and economically dependent.

The Illusion of Aid and Humanitarianism

Western governments often present themselves as Africa’s benefactors through foreign aid programs. However, these programs often serve European interests more than African development. Aid money is frequently tied to conditions that benefit European companies, and much of it is used to fund NGOs that do not address Africa’s real economic challenges.

Additionally, the continuous portrayal of Africa as a helpless continent in need of saving fuels a cycle of dependency while masking the real issue—ongoing European economic exploitation.

Breaking the Chains: The Path to True Independence

Africa’s future lies in breaking free from these systems of control. Steps toward true independence include:

• Strengthening intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which reduces dependence on European markets.
• Investing in local industries to process African resources on the continent rather than exporting them raw.
• Decolonizing education by revising curricula to teach African history and self-reliance rather than colonial narratives.
• Pan-African unity in resisting foreign economic policies that undermine African development.

Conclusion

Europe’s role in under-developing Africa did not end with colonial rule—it simply evolved. Through economic policies, financial institutions, trade agreements, and political interference, Europe maintains a system that keeps Africa in a state of dependence. However, Africa has the power to reclaim its destiny through unity, self-reliance, and economic independence.

The masses of Africa are crying for unity… we must unite now or perish. – Kwame Nkrumah