Exorcizing Machiavelli's Ghost: Towards a Political Reconstruction in

There is a seemingly flawed interchanging of the two terms: pseudo-politics, and politics. It is clear to me that what Africa has in profusion is the former. It is, encouraging that this discrepancy is coming to light. It is essentially this discrepancy that would help Africa realise the imperative need for true politics. This essay explores the present political outlook in Africa in general. For decades, Africa has been choked under the grip of immoral politicians. Politicians believed that politics is just about maintaining power. By using a few examples of African states, the essay argues that the current political shift in many African states is only a new version of colonialism, a victim of Machiavelli¿s ghost. The endless coups, wars, that culminated in the suffering, and deaths of many ordinary people in their quest for true politics, are clear results of the exclusion of morality in politics by Machiavelli and his followers. Assassinations, and dishonesty, have become part and parcel of Africäs political culture. This should stop if Africa is to witness, social, economic, and political progress and compete with other continents.