Achille Mbembe: africa’s democratic journey, cfa franc, and reparations debated

The renowned Cameroonian philosopher, Achille Mbembe, asserts that genuine democracy has never truly taken root across the African continent. In an exclusive interview, he delves into critical topics including the CFA franc, political stagnation in Central Africa, and the ongoing demand for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade.

During the 3rd African Democracy Summit, held at the Théodore Monod Museum in Dakar, Professor Achille Mbembe, a distinguished historian, philosopher, and research scholar, shared his profound insights.

▶ Watch the video above.

As President of the Foundation for Innovation for Democracy, Mbembe offers a trenchant critique of Africa’s experiences with democratic governance. Countering the prevalent notion that the continent is facing a crisis of democracy, he posits that, in most African nations, democracy has simply never been authentically established.

“A crisis of democracy cannot exist where democracy has not been practiced”

Achille Mbembe argues that referring to a