ABSTRACT
African leaders have pledged to uphold and promote the human rights of their citizens contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For many Africans, the prospect of independence represented a period of tremendous hope and expectations. This chapter argues that one of the major contributing factors to political instability and the dismal economic conditions that have plagued many African states since independence may be attributed to their human rights records. It focuses on how the lack of fundamental respect for the political and civil rights of Africans has contributed to the political and economic problems of the continent since independence. The citizens are excluded from freely and genuinely participating in the political process the more the likelihood that discontent and political instability would result. The economic consequences of the human rights abuses in Africa are evident in other areas.
