Over the past three weeks, all eyes in Africa, including those of the continent’s governments, have been on Kenya and the #RejectFinanceBill protests that erupted in Nairobi in opposition to a proposed tax hike. Kenyan President William Ruto ultimately backed away from signing the bill into law, but not before dozens of protesters were killed by the heavy-handed response of the country’s security forces.
For many, it is a déjà vu moment, reminiscent of Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests four years ago, prompting the question: Could this be the start of an “African Spring,” whereby transnationally inspired protest movements challenge governments that, though democratically elected, are perceived to be unaccountable?
Across Africa, countries grapple with the unfortunate reality of poor democratic governance, characterized by corruption, insecurity and conflicts over natural resource management. Opinions on the root causes of these problems vary. Some attribute them to neocolonialism and inadequate bureaucratic structures, while others blame public servants for their kleptocratic tendencies. While some combination of all of these factors is likely to blame, the undeniable truth is that governments across the continent sit on a ticking time bomb. Growing dissatisfaction with poverty, poor governance and the high cost of living is propelling populations toward uprisings, manifesting as protests in some countries and military coups in others.