Editor,REFERENCE IS made to Joe B. Jakes’s article, "Africa’s New Year resolution: same old political violence?” (The New Times, January 14).Africa’s instabilities and underdevelopment are brought about by the leaders who come to power mostly through the barrel of the gun as a generation-like cycle passed on from their elders. This cycle of instabilities affects both physically and mentally the development of the people involved, including some of today’s leaders denying them a chance to concentrate and to copy the important values that help people to peacefully relate to one another. It creates no environment for physical development but physical destruction of both human life and properties. It is a cycle that teaches men the survival and defensive skills coupled with inhuman traits for one against another to achieve fast and to defend their national loots and their power at all costs. It’s a generational cycle of leadership that’s characterised by silencing of the decency, and embracing corruption and inequality with every regime looking to loot national resources more than the previous one. In the end, these instabilities create a weak foundation that cannot support universal development in a nation, which again, leads to elite power struggle and more instabilities. The key to Africa’s stability and development lies with the African leaders who ought to serve their respective nations with love for their fellow citizens, and their nations, respect for their national constitutions, permitting full functioning of political pluralism, and allowing ideological competition amongst the people through the freedom of speech.Clet Mugabo, United States**********************Well put, Joe. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a better 2014 for Africa. However, the list of the troubled countries should also include Libya and Somalia and the politically boiling Niger where the president is being asked to resign. The year 2013 also saw continued human suffering for the people of Madagascar following the coup d’état of 2009. I’m afraid this trend is likely to continue until the greedy leaders of some of our nations and the avaricious leaders of opposition/rebel groups stop their malicious and self-centered ambitions. Only God knows and can help. Paul, Rwanda**********************My heart cries out for Africa. It is totally unacceptable to see ordinary Africans kill each other on TV screens; why? Just because of some despots who mislead their people into believing that they are fighting for their religion or ethnic survival? With more than 50 years of independence, can’t Africans really be in charge of their destiny?My country Ghana has been somewhat good at managing our internal politics and imagine if all the African countries would do the same! Hope 2014 becomes better as the author suggests.Mensah, Ghana