Will Africa See More Protests In 2025?

The African continent was rife with different protests in 2024. With many of the triggers that caused the protests not attended to, 2025 may see these protests skyrocket.

Written by Pelumi Salako

Feb 16, 2025

Collage by Dami Mojid / THE REPUBLIC.

2024 was a year of protests in Africa. Citizens across many countries took to the streets to express frustration at their unyielding situations. From Maputo to Lagos to Accra to Nairobi, people-led protests and uprisings stung the government, and in some cases, taking security forces by surprise. The protestors remained defiant as they asked that their demands be met.

The governments had it coming, though, as most countries experienced deteriorating economic challenges, mismanagement of public funds, extended office tenures, and a nonchalant approach to public issues for example Ghana’s GDP decelerated from 3.8 per cent in 2022 to 2.9 per cent in 2023. The demonstrations persisted for weeks, in some cases through online platforms and on the streets. Despite executing harsh crackdown and victimization methods such as in Nigeria where the police used excessive violence to quash #EndbadGovernance protests, the voices of these protesters only resounded with renewed vigour, some even drawing motivation from the other (Ugandans were inspired by Kenyan protestors), prompting observers and commentators such as Tafi Mhaka to wonder if an ‘African Spring’ was in the making.

Civil societies, citizens and opposition leaders led the helm, as hashtags like #FixTheCountry in Ghana, #SayNoToBadGovernance in Nigeria, #OccupyParliament in Kenya and #RestoreSubsidy in Nigeria trended on the airwaves, social media and on the streets via placards. The authorities in many cases tried to censor the movements by slowing or jamming the networks or even totally shutting down access to the internet. For example in Mozambique the three telecommunication companies cut internet connection for weeks to crackdown on dissent, hurting small businesses.

Government responses were predictable too as they looked into the old rule book of repression to quash the protest efforts through brawn and boots. Mozambique and Kenya arguably saw the worst of it with protestors repeatedly beaten, jailed, killed and even abducted after the protests.

You’ve Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

The Republic is a Nigerian media-tech company dedicated to explaining our time—through deeply reported journalism on power, culture and society.

Ad-Free Reading Experience

Focused consumption without interruptions.

Unlimited Access to Exclusive Archives

Years of reporting at your fingertips.

In-Depth Deep-Dive Reporting

Long-form journalism that matters.

Create a free account to continue reading this month and access more of our work.

Comments

SHOP THE REPUBLIC

There Is Too Much Ideology in Nigerian Politics

Nigerian politics does not lack ideology. Instead, the problem is that one ideology has become so dominant that we have stopped seeing it.

—October 4, 2026

Does Nigeria Need 36 States?

There is no universal formula for determining how many states a country should have. Nigeria has 36 states, but why not 35 or 37? Is 36 even the ideal number?

—March 22, 2026

Kidnapped From the House of God

What began as a Tuesday evening service at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, turned into a live-streamed kidnapping that dragged 38 worshippers into the forest and left three people dead. Nearly 40 days after the bandit attack, Pelumi Salako visits Eruku to speak with survivors.

—March 22, 2026

What Endures in Borno Are the People

Boko Haram terrorism fits into a longer pattern of insurgency in Borno. Civilians survive through collective resistance, negotiation and uneasy compliance, and ‘peace’ in wartime is often shaped by tragic trade-offs.

—March 22, 2026

The Bombing That Changed Abuja Forever

In 2011, a Boko Haram bombing at the United Nations House in Abuja claimed the lives of 26 people. The incident changed Nigeria’s capital city and the lives of its residents forever.

Subscribe to our free newsletter

You're in — welcome to The Republic

Complete your onboarding

Read

Connect

Apps

More

Read

Connect

Apps

More

Will Africa See More Protests In 2025?