African nations have gone through various forms of oppression during colonial rule. The rules of divide and rule which was introduced by the British Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, who was appointed as the 17th Viceroy of India, to divide and rule Indians.
The concept then became popular and transitioned to many of British and other European colonies. The rule has been effective in dividing the locals and creating a rift that is still evident in the present-day Africa. The rule privileged the few in the form of bribery and governance power that led to the exploitation of the many.
The system was effective in making sure that the ruling party does not have any rivals to turn over the power as they are engaged in fighting with each other. This is manifested in kleptocratic rule which is widely is in today’s third world nations.
(Daron Acemoglu, 2004) “… the feasibility of divide-and-rule depends on the socioeconomic environment. In particular, they follow directly from the logic of divide-and-rule: Kleptocracy survives if, off the equilibrium path, it can successfully bribe the pivotal group. Consequently,
kleptocracy is more likely, when producer groups or their political representatives are more shortsighted, because they put less weight on future returns under democracy… This is because the main challenge to the ruler comes from the more productive group, which has more to gain from democracy. If inequality increases, it becomes more difficult for the ruler to sustain his kleptocratic policies.” In Kleptocracy rule as Acemoglu has explained in order to control the resources, the people have to be made submissive by any means for them not to contemplate the concept of democracy.
Immanuel Kant a German philosopher puts the concept of divide and rule in a bold manner where by dictators maintain their power successfully.
“Divide et impera. That is, if there are certain privileged persons in your nation who have chosen you as their chief (primus inter pares), set them at variance with one another and embroil them with the people. Show the latter visions of greater freedom, and all will soon depend on your untrammeled will. Or if it is foreign states that concern you, it is a pretty safe means to sow discord among them so that, by seeming to protect the weaker, you can conquer them one after another.” (Kant, 1795)
Divide and rule as Kant expressed is observed in many ways one of which is to show the people a greater cause and disintegrate their unity to preserve the dictatorial rule in the name of democracy. The method used is to present a greater outside treat that is evident to mobilize the whole towards one common enemy and the other is labeling one group as an aggressor and the other as a victim. Thus, the ruler becomes the defendant of the victim in the superficial narration to destroy the potential treat to power.
This concept is in line with Simmel (1908) who argues that divide and rule strategy is effective in creating a conflict between two groups where one weakens the other or one destroys the other so as to maintain a power balance or eliminate the treat.
Sudan has faced more than its share of coup de états in its history. The recent coup has seen the overthrow of Omar Al Bashir’s military regime in 2019. However, Bashir had formed a coup proofing where he had appointed military leaders to check and balance power to protect its regime.
The two main forces are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) which has been the country’s defense force for over a century and the Janjaweed militia organized under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in 2013. Al Bashir in his quest to proof any coup, gave both groups plenty of the nation’s resources to appease them.
When the Sudanese people protested in 2018 due to economic crises in the country, the two strong powers stood by the side of the people to overthrow Omar Al Bashir in 2019. SAF and RSF were forced by allied countries to have a power sharing agreement. They appointed the new prime minister Abdallah Hamdok, however due to several military interventions and attempted coup Hamdok resigned in 2022. This meant the leading role was put on the two military leaders Burhan (SAF) as leader and Hameti (RAF) as second in command. This appointment did not sit well with Hameti, who considered himself as a statesman.
The two leaders have their own riches and have created various international alliance with many countries, which makes them politically and militarily strong. Both have been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, in Darfur. Both do not want to hand over their power to adhere to the needs of the Sudanese people.
The war that broke out in the capital Khartoum is a manifestation of how corrupt the military groups are. The military that is theoretically expected to side with and protect the civilians has waged war on them as thousands have been slaughtered and millions are displaced to neighboring nations. The civilians and activists have continued their protest on social medias. Ally countries like Ethiopia are doing their part to bring the two military group to round table discussions and solve their differences.
The divide and rule strategy that has enriched many African dictators and supporters has turned a blind eye to the suffering of their people. African Leaders, in order to feed their insatiable needs are devising oppressive techniques that are becoming more and more aggressive. The voices of the people, however, are still being heard. Citizen journalism is evident in Sudan and the atrocious acts of the military groups that have waged war on the public is visible in social medias.
Ethiopia, who has also faced the ethnic divide and rule and Kleptocratic leadership relates too well with the suffering and the hardship that the Sudanese are going throw. Ethiopians stand with the people of Sudan who have a historical relationship and cultural ties.
Resources of Sudanese people is to the betterment of the people and not to the glorification of military groups. Let the Sudanese people have peace and stability, let the people elect their leader, let the people benefit from their country’s riches …Africans should stop proliferating divide and rule that is cancerous to their nation and work towards social development.
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