Massive maldistribution of income. Many of these countries are artificial nations in the sense that their borders don't correspond with linguistic, ethnic, or cultural similarities. Colonial powers drew up borders arbitrarily and thus linked disperate peoples within the same borders laying the foundations for future conflicts. Low levels of national integration characterize many of these countries that have profound religious, ethnic, linguistic, and class divisions within. Disparities in economic resources lead to disparities in social status.
Regimes are extractive regimes based on clientelism.
That state exists to extract resources from the society without giving much back to the society. Relatively high levels of political conflict and political instability. This leads to frequent military rule in overt or disguised form. Frequent communal conflict. Limited political participation by the majority.