African nations are undertaking reforms, but the driving force behind these changes is raising concerns. According to Dieudonné Sewonou, a journalist and media consultant, there are two approaches to reform in Africa: one that prioritizes citizens' needs and another that seeks to satisfy external donors. Sewonou argues that reforms designed to please external parties often suffocate the very people they are meant to help. This has sparked a debate about the true beneficiaries of these reforms.
The scenario repeats itself whenever a "major reform" is announced in Africa. Governments tout "modernization," "digitalization," and "fiscal discipline," but the impact on citizens varies greatly depending on the goals of those in power. Not all reforms are created equal, and governments do not follow the same compass. Some nations are bold in their reforms, which, although challenging at first, lead to tangible results such as modern infrastructure, reduced corruption, and efficient public services.
On one hand, there are states that have adopted an endogenous development vision, where reforms lead to rapid and palpable results. In these countries, the initial efforts translate into modern infrastructure, reduced corruption, and efficient public services. The population's constraints become progress and protection. On the other hand, some governments implement reforms not to meet citizens' needs but to validate the criteria of external donors and satisfy financial partners.
In the latter category of states, citizens perceive reforms as a survival test rather than a promise of a better future. Administrative procedures become a Kafkaesque labyrinth for small entrepreneurs and ordinary users. The multiplication of taxes, direct and indirect, and ancillary fees hits households already weakened by inflation. When fiscal and administrative rigor does not lead to better schools, decent hospitals, or passable roads, it ceases to be a management measure and becomes an insupportable pressure.
Sewonou argues that it is not about rejecting modernization or budgetary discipline, but about recognizing that Africa needs profound structural reforms to finance its own future. However, a reform designed solely to please external parties always ends up suffocating the interior. A government's true success is not measured by the number of boxes ticked in international reports but by the well-being of its citizens, the fluidity of services, and the level of trust restored between the state and its citizens.
It is time for African leaders to stop reforming out of diplomatic obligation and start reforming out of national conviction. No country has ever developed by suffocating those who make it live daily. The continent's future will not be written through external dictates or repeated taxes. For reforms to become a motor of hope again, leaders must realign their ambitions with the realities of their people, listening before imposing, accompanying before sanctioning, and proving the usefulness of effort through concrete results.
Ultimately, the success of reforms in Africa depends on the priorities of its leaders. If reforms are designed to serve the people, they can lead to tangible progress and a better future. However, if they are driven solely by external pressures, they risk exacerbating the challenges faced by citizens. As Africa continues to evolve, its leaders must prioritize the needs of their people to ensure that reforms bring about meaningful change.
Key points
- Reforms in Africa must prioritize citizens' needs over external pressures.
- Two approaches to reform exist in Africa: one driven by citizens' needs and another by external donors.
- Sustainable reforms in Africa require a balance between modernization and the well-being of citizens.
