Since the beginning of this year, several African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, have witnessed popular protests in response to worsening economic conditions and rising prices. These demonstrations have intensified the political pressures that the continent's nations are already facing due to escalating global crises. Given that the African landscape is highly dynamic on multiple levels—both politically and economically—these popular protests, led by Generation Z or the post-Millennial youth, are spreading across the continent.

Notably, the deterioration of economic conditions and the decline in living standards among various segments of the population in these African countries have been the primary catalysts for the escalation of popular protests. These demonstrations have revealing implications and potential consequences, especially in light of reports indicating economic slowdown in many African nations.

Wave of Similar Protests 

The recent wave of popular protests across several African countries shares key features and indicators. The similar economic and living conditions in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, as well as other nations on the continent, have significantly contributed to the parallels observed in these demonstrations.

In East Africa, Kenya's protests began on June 18th, targeting the 2024 finance bill, which proposed additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Neighboring Uganda, influenced by Kenya's unrest, saw popular protests erupt on July 23rd against what demonstrators described as widespread government corruption. Similarly, in West Africa, Nigerian youth took to social media to announce plans for ten days of nationwide protests beginning in early August. Under the slogan "End Bad Governance," these demonstrations aimed to express dissatisfaction with deteriorating economic conditions.

The similarities among these three African countries are striking, particularly regarding their unprecedented rise in unemployment rates. This issue disproportionately affects youth—those under 34 years old—who represent the social backbone of African society. With potentially half or more of these populations experiencing unemployment and joblessness, it is unsurprising that young people have been the spark igniting these protests.

Moreover, poverty rates have risen significantly across these nations. According to World Bank figures released at the beginning of this year, over 19 million Kenyans—about 36% of the population—live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day. Nigeria faces a similar predicament, with approximately 40% of its 223 million people living below the poverty line. Uganda's situation mirrors its counterparts, with about 41% of the population suffering from poverty.

The common thread binding these African protests is the demand for improved living standards, especially in light of declining economic indicators. This trend raises concerns about the potential for increased political unrest across the continent, particularly in its most impoverished nations.

Implications of the Protests

The popular protests that erupted in three African countries at the beginning of 2024 have significant implications, which can be outlined as follows:

1- Growing societal capacities of youth:

The protests in these African countries serve as a powerful expression of the young generation's growing societal capacities. They convey a strong message from the youth to the ruling regimes, demonstrating their increasing ability to address current issues using modern tools, particularly leveraging the potential of social media to enhance their influence.

It is evident that the popularity of the ruling regimes in these countries is declining due to the influence of this young generation. Their success in mobilizing large segments of the population to protest against these regimes indicates a widening gap between this generation and the ruling elite.

2- Interdependence of economics and politics:

One of the most significant implications of these popular protests is that they reflect the deteriorating economic and living conditions in these African countries. The situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing global food crisis and the lack of effective solutions to the Russia-Ukraine war, which have added to the burdens of the African continent.

These challenges are intensified by the fragile economic structures in many African countries and the intertwining of economic and political crises, with each often exacerbating the other. The World Bank's Africa Pulse report predicted that the economic growth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa would decrease from 3.6% to 3.1% this year, underscoring that these protests are a manifestation of the economic crisis affecting many African nations.

3- Failure of security responses to protests:

Despite the clear demands of the young protesters in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, the responses of the ruling regimes have fallen short of expectations. The authorities in these countries have prioritized security solutions over political and economic approaches. The failure of these security-focused responses to quell the popular protests appears to have been facilitated by the active role of social media in mobilizing citizens. Youth-led campaigns and calls for protests have effectively utilized these platforms to rally support and coordinate actions.

Pressing Consequences

The spread of protests across African countries carries several potential consequences, the most notable of which are as follows:

1- Widening popular rejection of ruling regimes:

While ruling regimes in some African countries may attempt to alleviate the intensity of popular protests by adopting reforms, such measures are likely to serve only as "temporary relief" and may not be effective even in the short term. The worsening economic situation may therefore lead to increased rejection of these ruling regimes, especially as youth activists continue to mobilize public and social opposition, particularly among the poorest segments of society. This mobilization could contribute to unifying political opposition forces, which have gained new popular support through ongoing internal interactions.

2- Declining political legitimacy of governments:

As demonstrations and popular protests persist, the political legitimacy of ruling regimes in these African countries may erode due to increasing public rejection. A clear example is the anger among youth against Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986. Some major international powers may impose sanctions on certain officials in these African countries; for instance, on June 27, the United States imposed sanctions against the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Anita Among, and five other Ugandan officials on charges related to corruption.

3- Increased activity of terrorist groups and organizations:

Popular protests in some African countries, such as Nigeria, could likely lead to increased activities and violent operations by terrorist groups. These groups often exploit conditions of demonstrations and security unrest to launch attacks in targeted countries. A clear example is Boko Haram, whose operations escalated in Nigeria before the recent protests. This suggests that the group may exploit the popular protests in Nigeria to plan further terrorist operations, benefiting from the widespread public discontent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly regarding the economic situation.

In conclusion, the growing gap between ruling regimes in some African countries and certain segments of the population, especially the more open-minded youth generation, is linked to structural issues that have surfaced in recent years. These issues are primarily related to the deterioration of economic conditions and the decline in living standards across the African continent.