Charles A. Ray
In “Does Africa Matter to the United States?”, published by FPRI on January 11, 2021, it was argued that the youth of Africa, who currently account for almost half the continent’s population, could become recruits for extremist movements if they are not provided gainful employment and economic opportunities. What that article failed to address is the possibility that Africa’s youth, if denied opportunity, can also pose a direct threat to governments.
Recent events across sub-Saharan Africa, where youth-led protests have challenged entrenched leadership, raise the possibility that the changes forecast in the article mentioned above could unfold well ahead of 2050, when African youth will be one of the world’s largest demographics.
Across Africa, the “Youth Bubble” is Rising
In September 2025, hundreds of young protesters took to the streets across Morocco, seeking improvements in government services and an end to endemic corruption. Demonstrators, organized by a movement known as GenZ 212, have staged protests in at least eleven of Morocco’s cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakesh. They are urging more investment in public health and education and denouncing what they call misplaced national priorities—among them is the government’s multibillion-dollar investment in football infrastructure in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup soccer events, while women are dying in maternity hospitals because of the lack of sufficient medical staff. These have been some of the largest anti-government demonstrations in Morocco since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and resulted in an aggressive security force response and the arrest of hundreds.
Gen-Z protests in Kenya in June 2025 saw young people across the nation taking to the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a better future. Eight young protestors were killed in a confrontation with police, and one lost fingers when a tear gas canister he was attempting to throw back at riot police exploded in his hands. While these protests have not resulted in any immediate change, observers note that they have shaken the political landscape and are likely to impact the future direction of governance in Kenya. The Kenya protests, organized by youth activists and civil society groups, reflect the frustration of young people with government policies, police brutality, and economic hardships. While protests over tax hikes in 2024 led to some reforms, including abandoning of the proposed tax legislation, it remains to be seen if this year’s protests will have similar results.
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