George Floyd, bad governance, and the silent violations of African human rights

Abstract

In 2020, George Floyd – a Black man in the United States – was brutally killed by a white police officer. The world was unequivocal in denouncing such an outrageous act, but Black people living in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to face multiple right violations. This can be attributed to fundamental governance crevices associated with poor leadership that characterise many of these African states. This article outlines a number of examples of the incessant suppression of the socio-economic, civil, political, and overall human rights of Africans in the face of dictatorship, anarchy, and bad governance. The clamour for good governance on the continent is critical for upholding the dignity of Black African lives.