Your question OP's very annoying because as an African I know what is happening in the continent. You are not out of place to assume that developed nations have a level of political and economic control or influence on Africans. But this influence is still potent because Africans have refused to develop. We are not the only continent that was colonized. India, Indonesia, and other countries suffered under colonialism and today they are far better than Africans both politically and economically.

Africans like playing the blame game. Is it the Europeans that rig elections in Africa? You feel it was the whites that told your president to change and amend the Constitution so that he can become a life president. When your political and economic leaders are looting and exploiting the country, was it a European that is the minister of finance or minister of mineral resources?

Africans need to stop this blame game and take responsibilty for their development. Most African nations have been independent for over fifty years. And if a fifty years old man keeps blaming his parents for his failure then he is highly irresponsible.