Weak Institutions, Corruption, and Political Patronage: Governance Challenges in African Disaster Management

This study aims to examine how weak institutions, corruption, and political patronage undermine the effectiveness of disaster management systems in African states. While natural hazards such as floods, droughts, and landslides trigger disasters, their severity and human impact are often determined by governance failures rather than the hazards themselves. Drawing on qualitative, document-based case studies, the research analyzes three illustrative examples: the 2017 Regent landslide in Sierra Leone, which exposed institutional overlap and corruption; the 2012 nationwide floods in Nigeria, which revealed the politicized distribution of relief; and recurring droughts in Kenya, which demonstrated systemic diversion of aid. Findings show that governance weaknesses, ranging from poor institutional coordination to resource mismanagement and partisan relief allocation, erode public trust, reinforce social inequalities, and perpetuate cycles of vulnerability. The study interprets these dynamics through the Pressure and Release (PAR) model, linking root causes of vulnerability to disaster outcomes, and the Good Governance framework, which emphasizes accountability, transparency, and responsiveness. By highlighting the lived realities of marginalized communities, the paper underscores that effective disaster response requires not only technical capacity but also comprehensive governance reforms. This study emphasizes the urgency of strengthening institutions, embedding anti-corruption mechanisms, depoliticizing disaster response, and fostering inclusive, community-centered governance structures.