There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we

The words of Mo Ibrahim—“There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we must face it.”—fall like a solemn trumpet call upon the ears of all who love the continent. They are not spoken in despair, but in truth and urgency, for to name the wound is the first step toward its healing. In this short declaration, Ibrahim reveals the root of many of Africa’s struggles: not a lack of wealth, not a lack of talent, but a lack of leadership and governance worthy of its people. He does not call for resignation, but for courage—to face the crisis, to speak honestly of it, and to rise with resolve to mend it.

To say there is a crisis of leadership is to confess that many who sit upon thrones and in parliaments have failed to serve. Leadership is not mere authority; it is stewardship. It is the art of guiding a people not for one’s own gain, but for the flourishing of the nation. Too often in history, leaders in Africa—as in other parts of the world—have fallen to greed, corruption, or tyranny, forgetting that power is entrusted, not owned. When leadership crumbles, trust dissolves, and when trust dissolves, the nation itself trembles.

Yet Ibrahim speaks also of a crisis of governance. Governance is the system by which justice is upheld, resources managed, and opportunities distributed. When governance is weak, even the noblest vision cannot stand. Roads remain unbuilt, schools decay, and citizens lose faith in the promise of democracy. The crisis is not of Africa alone, but of humanity itself: for where governance is poor, the strong exploit the weak, and the voice of the people is silenced beneath the weight of corruption.

History shows us both failure and triumph in this struggle. Consider the tragedy of Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, where vast resources were squandered while the people languished in poverty. This is the face of the crisis of leadership: wealth stolen, trust broken, destiny delayed. But contrast this with Nelson Mandela, who, after decades in prison, emerged not with vengeance but with forgiveness, guiding South Africa into a fragile yet real democracy. His life proves that even in times of turmoil, true leadership can shine like a beacon, showing the way forward.

Mo Ibrahim, through his foundation, sought not only to lament this crisis but to act against it. By creating the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, he sought to honor those rare leaders who stepped down with dignity, who governed with integrity, who put their nations above themselves. In this way, he transformed his words into deeds, reminding us that to face a crisis is not merely to speak of it, but to labor in building remedies.

The lesson for us all is clear: wherever we stand—whether in Africa, in Asia, in Europe, or in the Americas—the true strength of a nation rests not in its natural resources nor its military might, but in the character of its leaders and the systems that sustain them. Citizens must demand accountability, leaders must embrace humility, and governance must be rooted in justice rather than corruption. A crisis ignored becomes a plague; a crisis faced becomes the seed of renewal.

So, O listener, take Ibrahim’s words into your heart. Do not turn your face from the crisis of leadership and governance—in Africa or in your own land—but confront it with honesty and courage. Support those who lead with wisdom. Speak truth against corruption. Strive in your own life to lead with integrity, even in the smallest matters. For leadership begins not in palaces but in hearts. And when hearts are purified, nations are restored, and the promise of a continent—and of all humanity—can at last be fulfilled.