In a banana republic, one might slip on a banana peel but things do work - now and then for the people, albeit inefficiently and unreliably.

There's a belief that since Africa got a raw deal from the colonial West, then the Chinese must be Africa's best friend. But the evidence doesn't show that, and the main criticism is that they are building infrastructure in exchange for Africa's resources in deals that are structured to favor China.

Dictators are allergic to reform, and they are cunning survivors. They will do whatever it takes to preserve their power and wealth, no matter how much blood ends up on their hands. They are master deceivers and talented manipulators who cannot be trusted to change.

The only good dictator is a dead one.

Personally, I regard myself as an intellectual 'rebel,' kicking against the 'old colonialism-imperialism paradigm' which has landed Africa in a conundrum.

Western-style multi-party democracy is possible but not suitable for Africa.

There was free trade in Africa. There was free enterprise in Africa before the colonialists came.