Africa’s youth are rising up in a wave of protests, demanding an end to corruption, economic hardship, and political oppression, and sparking a summer of unrest and activism across the continent.
Protests in Kenya, driven by young people, particularly Gen Z, forced President William Ruto to retract a unpopular tax bill and revamp his cabinet after six weeks of demonstrations, which saw at least 50 deaths. However, protesters remain dissatisfied, alleging corruption and police brutality, and are now demanding further action, including the president’s resignation.
East Africa’s largest economy, Kenya, faces a perfect storm of economic challenges, including skyrocketing living costs, high youth unemployment, and a staggering debt burden of billions of dollars, which absorbs a substantial chunk of its revenue, leaving limited resources for vital public expenditures.
Protesters in Uganda, inspired by the unrest in neighboring Kenya, tried to march on the parliament in Kampala on July 23 and 25, but were swiftly suppressed by security forces, who arrested more than 100 people, according to official police reports.
The protesters’ outrage is fueled by rampant government corruption in Uganda, which is estimated to embezzle a staggering Sh. 10 trillion ($2.7 billion) in public funds every year, according to the Inspectorate of Government (IG), the country’s anti-corruption agency. This widespread graft has sparked widespread anger and demands for reform.
Radio personality Faiza Fabz, who joined the protests, shared on social media that the movement offers an “opportunity to change the course of our nation” and a chance to “force the leaders to finally listen to us and demands of the people.”
Protester and radio host Faiza Fabz, who was taken into custody by Ugandan authorities, shared a newspaper front page on social media showcasing the movement’s demands, which include subjecting MPs to lifestyle audits and making the results public, and demanding the resignation of lawmakers tainted by corruption.
Uganda’s economy has enjoyed a spell of stability, thanks to a construction boom fueled by oil developments and a thriving agricultural sector, according to the World Bank, which has contributed to the country’s overall economic growth.
Uganda’s economy has shown signs of stability, but the country continues to struggle with deep-seated corruption, scoring a mere 26 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index last year.
This ranking system rates countries from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Recently, several high-profile Ugandan politicians, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, were sanctioned by the US and UK for corruption, prompting protesters to demand her resignation.
In response to the protests, President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda with an iron fist for nearly 40 years, warned demonstrators that they were “playing with fire.” He later commended security forces for “foiling” the protests, baselessly claiming they were orchestrated with “funding from foreign sources.”
Story by. Michael Seh
Source cnn.com
