Abstract:
This paper provides a comprehensive examination of leadership as a central determinant in Africa’s economic
development, contextualized within the historical epochs of pre-colonial autonomy, colonial domination, and contemporary
neo-colonial entanglements. Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of political economy and dependency theory, the study
interrogates the multifaceted ways in which external interference, institutional erosion, and socio-cultural fragmentation
have systematically debilitated indigenous leadership structures and obstructed pathways to sustainable development. While
the continent possesses an abundance of natural resources, the persistence of weak and extractive leadership—often
influenced or manipulated by global powers—has entrenched economic stagnation and social deprivation across much of
Africa. Employing a qualitative, interpretivist methodology, the study analyzes historical governance legacies and structural
constraints to illuminate the paradox of wealth amid poverty that characterizes many African states. The paper culminates in
a set of transformative policy recommendations, advocating for a reorientation of leadership toward African-centered
governance paradigms that prioritize self-determination, equitable resource management, and inclusive institutional reform.
