Pearce, Justin. “Control, Politics and Identity in The Angolan Civil War”. African Affairs, London, 111(444), (2012) 442–465. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/ads028

This article explores political mobilization, legitimacy, and identity in the Angolan Central Highlands from the anti-colonial struggle of the 1960s until the end of the civil war in 2002. The article examines how the rival movements, MPLA and UNITA, competed for support, and considers the nature of the relationships between political-military elites and the Angolan people.

Source: excerpt from article abstract

Obi, Cyril I. “Democratising Nigerian Politics: Transcending the Shadows of Militarism”. Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 34, No. 112, ‘Trading Africa's Future’ (June, 2007), pp. 379-384

One of the paradoxical features of the political transition(s) to democracy in Nigeria is that they have all been imposed by hegemonic bloc(s) within the military elite. Nigeria has inherited democracies from military Generals. Such transition(s)have provided legitimacy for the political elite to monopolize State power, gain international credibility and control access to vast providential petroleum resources. These elite pacts that underscore Nigeria's political transitions have undermined democracy, precisely by adopting its platform and appearance to gain legitimacy, while blocking genu in democratic forces from participating in politics or limiting them to voting without choosing.

Source: excerpt from article

Nest, Michael. “Ambitions, Profits and Loss: Zimbabwean Economic Involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”. African Affairs, Volume 100, Issue 400, 1 July 2001,Pages 469–490, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/100.400.469

Accounts of recent Zimbabwean economic involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) focus on commercial activities by military officials and political elites and suggest that these groups' business interests precipitated Zimbabwe's involvement in the conflict. Such accounts obscure the real scope and extent of interest by the Zimbabwean business community in the DRC and ignore the historical context in which economic involvement has occurred, as well as the difficulties. Based on interviews with Zimbabwean entrepreneurs and government officials, this article analyses the circumstances under which entrepreneurs sought opportunities in a nation virtually unknown to Zimbabweans prior to 1997. It explores the effect of poor domestic economic conditions and previous Zimbabwean military involvement (but subsequent lack of business penetration) in Mozambique, on government and business resolve to exploit opportunities in the DRC. Further, it argues that military involvement was not initially motivated by profit. Rather, entrepreneurs followed military actors once military networks were in place, as entrepreneurs (and military personnel themselves) realized the commercial value of these networks.

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Mutangadura, Chido. “Africa Must Prevent Its Soldiers and Police from Becoming Drivers of Instability.”  Institute for Security Studies, ISS Today, July 15, 2021.

The involvement of state security institutions in politics plays a role in driving political instability in Africa. The challenge usually extends beyond the military to encompass the judiciary, police and intelligence.

Source: Excerpt from article

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Mlambo, Daniel N., and Toyin Cotties Adetiba. “Post‐1994 South Africa’s peacekeeping and military intervention in Southern Africa, reference from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lesotho”. Journal of Public Affairs, (June 2019), 20(5).

The paper used a qualitative method approach to examine whether conflict resolution was viewed as a pivotal element for the new democratic government in order to stimulate beneficial relations with other African states post the apartheid era.

Klobucista, Claire. “Africa's 'Leaders for Life'.” Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Affairs, Council on Foreign Relations, June 30, 2021. ttps://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/africas-leaders-life.

This article provides an overview of African presidents' mandates that have been stopped (at times) from pro-democracy. The author argues that authoritarian power is trending in Africa at an accelerating rate. The text informs that since the 1960s, dozens of heads of state across sub-Saharan Africa have held office for more than thirty years.