What's happened
Since June 2024, widespread protests have erupted in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, driven by youth discontent over economic hardships and government corruption. In Kenya, protests against tax hikes have led to significant unrest, with calls for President William Ruto's resignation. Similar movements are emerging in Uganda and Nigeria, raising concerns about broader civil discontent across Africa.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Peter Muiruri in The Guardian, the protests in Kenya reflect a broader disillusionment among youth who blame the ruling class for economic failures. He notes that over 400 young people gathered at the Africa Youth Forum 2024 to discuss their challenges and aspirations. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera highlights the violent responses from authorities, with reports of police brutality and enforced disappearances during protests. Shola Lawal from Al Jazeera emphasizes that the protests in Kenya have sparked similar movements in Uganda and Nigeria, indicating a potential wave of civil unrest across the continent. The South China Morning Post reports on the government's attempts to quell protests by reshuffling the cabinet, but public anger remains high, suggesting that mere political changes may not suffice to address the underlying issues.
How we got here
The protests began in Kenya on June 18, 2024, in response to a controversial finance bill proposing tax increases amid rising living costs. The unrest quickly spread to Uganda and Nigeria, fueled by similar grievances over governance and economic conditions.
More on these topics
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Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Eastern Africa. At 580,367 square kilometres, Kenya is the world's 48th largest country by total area. With a population of more than 47.6 million people, Kenya is the 29th most populous country.
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William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto CGH is a Kenyan politician who is serving as the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected deputy president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
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Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.3 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area.