Colonialism is the practice of getting full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and taking resources and other sources of money from it. It is this practice that has held many countries back from developing. Some previously colonised countries have emerged as NEEs such as China and Mexico but many have yet to experience much development.
This is the general timeline of colonialism in Africa:
This is the general timeline of colonialism in Africa:
The process has taken raw materials that the country could have used to sell to develop and has often left a power vacuum post independence where unstable governments have been put in place and have made negative decisions that have impacted on their development.