The gradual breakdown of neoliberal reforms and the ensuing global crises have led to the resurgence and reinvention of autocratic political systems. Although this trend has had global manifestations, it has affected political systems differently, particularly in democratically weak states such as those in Africa. A closer analysis of continental datasets, mainly Afrobarometer, reveals a paradoxical coexistence of democratic expansion and reversals in Africa. While democratic space has expanded, it has been simultaneously constrained by enduring autocratic norms, leading to a decline in democratic activism of the previous generation. Opposition parties and civil activists have either joined with governments or shifted their focus, while the judiciary and parliament have been compromised and remain weak. The citizenry is polarised along ethnic lines, sustaining divide-and-rule tactics and ethnicised political settlements. As a result, public discontent and poor government performance have increased, prompting more protests. In the last three years, these protests have taken unprecedented impetus – evolving in scope and strategy, often led by a youthful, optimistic and digitally savvy Gen Z. From countries such as Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania in Africa to nations like Nepal, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste the Philippines and Turkey, Generation Z has mobilised against growing economic mismanagement, with the potential for political change on the horizon. But can Gen Z exert enough pressure to bring about structural political change in African systems that have long struggled to overcome autocratic regimes? This discussion examines the governance challenges behind Gen Z’s uprisings over the past decade, what sustains these challenges, the prospects for change, and whether recent protests led by Gen Z can catalyse the necessary transformation going forward. The analysis is based on the Afrobarometer dataset, ranging between 2014 and 2024, in selected countries.

Dr Gedion Onyango is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at LSE. He is a consultant on African politics, public policy, and governance. His research aims to reduce the continent’s historical reliance on external expertise and scholarship. His work promotes a more localised, interdisciplinary, and decolonised approach to understanding how the state and politics function in Africa and their impact on public welfare.