SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION: HOW AFRICAN YOUTHS ARE DEMANDING CHANGE

The rise of young people against bad governance is a wake-up call for governments across the continent, argues Ibraheem Sanusi

In the face of mounting societal pressures and disillusionment with traditional political systems, a new breed of African citizens is rising – one that has been labeled with derisive terms like “Collective Children of Anger,” and “Digital Wankers“ by some people in power. These phrases, among other disparaging labels, have been hurled at young Africans who dare to challenge the status quo and demand better from their governments. Yet, these labels belie the true nature of this movement, a turning point generation of young people who are fed up with unemployment, lack of opportunities, and the suffocating grip of years of bad governance. These young people are not mere troublemakers but the catalysts of a new era in African activism. They are harnessing the power of digital platforms and street protests to demand change, refusing to be silenced by condescending rhetoric or empty promises.

The recent #RejectFinanceBill protests in Kenya serve as a stark illustration of this burgeoning movement. Fueled by frustration with a government seemingly deaf to their concerns, young Kenyans took to the streets to reject a finance bill that threatened to erode their purchasing power, stifle businesses, and exacerbate the lack of opportunities for youth. After days of deadly protests which sadly claimed innocent lives, William Ruto, the Kenyan President, acceded to the protesters’ demands and declined assent to the bill, declared the withdrawal of government funding to some offices, and abolished redundant departments and agencies of government. On 11 July 2024, in further efforts to reaffirm his commitment to addressing the concerns raised by these young people, he sacked his entire cabinet, bar two officials: his Deputy and the Principal Cabinet Minister. 

The #RejectFinanceBill protests are not isolated incidents but a part of a larger wave of youth-led protests that has been sweeping across Africa for close to two decades. In 2009, a series of anti-government demonstrations and uprisings which started in Tunisia in response to corruption and economic stagnation in the country quickly spread to neighbouring countries Libya and Egypt. With their digital tools and street protests, the protests led to the toppling of decades-long dictatorships of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Muammar Ghadaffi, and Hosni Mubarak.  

This spirit of defiance then spread to other parts of Africa, inspiring movements like the Y’en a Marre (“Fed Up”) in Senegal in 2011. The group, founded by Senegalese rappers and journalists, initially started in reaction to Dakar’s frequent power cuts and quickly metamorphosed into a mobilization platform for young people to vote out then-President Abdoulaye Wade. Thirteen years later, protests largely driven by young Senegalese men and women pressured former President Macky Sall to accede to the demands of the citizens hastily, rescinding his decision to postpone the country’s presidential election. The result is the election of 44-year-old Basirou Diomanye Faye as President of Senegal. In 2014, protests in Burkina Faso peaked, leading to the unseating of former President Blaise Compaoré, who ruled the country for 26 years. Similar protests such as the 2012 #OccupyNigeria and 2020 #EndSARS protests were witnessed in Nigeria against corruption, police brutality and citizen’s general hopelessness.   

At the heart of these protests lies Africa’s youth bulge – the continent’s rapidly growing population of young people. A lack of opportunities, coupled with poor governance and economic mismanagement, has created a ticking time bomb of frustration and despair. Young people, brimming with potential, are being denied the chance to build a better future for themselves and their communities. With limited opportunities and dwindling prospects, this demographic is increasingly restless and impatient. This is not simply a matter of youthful idealism clashing with the pragmatism of age. It is a fundamental question of survival. Young Africans are not merely asking for a better future but literally fighting for their existence. They are tired of empty promises and hollow rhetoric. They demand action and are not afraid to make their voices heard.

While digital platforms have become a crucial mobilizing tool for this new generation of active citizens, their engagement extends far beyond the confines of the internet. They are equally adept at organizing and participating in street protests, demonstrating a willingness to put their bodies on the line for their beliefs. This combination of digital savvy and street-level activism has proven to be a potent force for change, capable of disrupting traditional power structures and forcing those in power to take notice. The #RejectFinanceBill protests in Kenya are a prime example of how digital activism can translate into real-world impact. Initially dismissed as digital wankers by a senior aide of the President, young people in their numbers proved they are more than keyboard warriors.

The Kenyan #RejectFinanceBill protests, like many others before them illustrated earlier, are a testament to the power of collective action. They demonstrate that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, ordinary people can come together to demand change. The fact that these protests were able to garner such widespread support, despite attempts by the government to suppress them, speaks volumes about the depth of frustration and the desire for change that exists within Kenyan society and by extension in many other African countries.

While the grievances of young protesters vary from country to country, certain themes resonate across the continent. These include increasing multidimensional poverty, economic inequality, unemployment, high tax burdens, corruption, lack of opportunities, and government insensitivity to the plight of its citizens. Young people are tired of being told to be patient and wait their turn. They demand to be heard, and they are not afraid to challenge those in power. Unfortunately, the initial reaction to most of these protests by governments across the continent is often the dismissal of the concerns of young people.

The series of events in Kenya, for instance, demonstrate the tone-deafness of the leaders against the voice of the people. Months leading to the protests, the young people had been active and vocal against graft, opulence, and wastage by the government, constantly calling for change. The finance bill was the tipping point and even then, as the protests were ongoing for days, the government was eager to pass the bill, and they did. They taunted the young protestors while at it. Only after the protestors made a forceful entry into the parliament buildings on the 25^th of June 2024, where the parliamentarians were in session, did the government finally pay attention, and for the first time that evening, the president addressed the nation. However, was this a little too late? Had the margin of goodwill and trust deficit widened between the leaders and the people? Had the government missed an opportunity to mitigate the situation by listening when it should have and actively addressing the concerns of the young people? Will the raft of efforts by the President, including hosting a dialogue on social media with the young people yield positive outcomes?

This hesitation to address the genuine concerns of protesters is not just in Kenya. In many other contexts, the initial response of most governments to these protests is to resort to repression and violence. Nonetheless, the underlying message from young protesters is clear: the old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. They demand a new social contract, one that prioritizes their needs and aspirations.

It is important to recognize and clearly state here that young people are not fundamentally opposed to government reforms or the sacrifices that may be required to achieve them. However, they demand transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of their grievances. They are tired of empty promises and half-hearted measures; they want to see real action and tangible results and see government acts in ways that justify the calls for sacrifice. To paraphrase George Orwell, government officials cannot simply ask citizens to sacrifice while they carry on like the proverbial animals who are more equal than others.

The message to African governments is clear: the era of complacency and neglect is over. The rise of this new generation of active citizens, with their unwavering determination and innovative tactics, is a force to be reckoned with and serves as an early warning for African leaders. This is not a passing fad. The influence of young people in shaping the continent’s future will only grow. They are not simply a demographic statistic; they are a force to be reckoned with. This was the crux of the work my colleagues and I in the then African Governance Architecture Secretariat of the African Union Commission did, where we developed the AGA Youth Engagement Strategy as a framework for meaningful engagement of young people in all spheres of governance processes on the continent. There is still a lot to be done! A closer and sustained policy engagement with young people regarding their economic, social, and political realities should be an inherent undertaking of responsive and transformative governments in Africa. Their sheer numbers and ingenuity clearly support this argument.

The rise of Africa’s new changemakers; the latter day “Soweto uprising” of young people fighting against a different kind of discrimination, is a wake-up call for governments across the continent. The old playbook of repression and empty promises no longer works. The old guard may dismiss them as children, but these ‘collective children of anger,” “wailing wailers,” and “digital wankers” are the architects of Africa’s future. Their voices will not be silenced, their demands will not be ignored, and their impact will be felt for generations to come. The question is, will African governments have the wisdom to listen?

In the words of one young Kenyan activist, “We are the turning point generation. We will not be silenced, we will not be ignored, and we will not give up until our voices are heard and our demands are met.” This is the spirit that defines Africa’s new changemakers, a generation that is determined to shape its own destiny and create a better future for all. The youth bulge is not a problem to be managed, but an asset to be harnessed. By investing in education, job creation, and opportunities for young people, governments can tap into this vast reservoir of potential and create a brighter future for all.

 Sanusi is a development cooperation expert based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia