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    OPINION                                                             OCTOBER 31, 2025       |  The Indian Eye 10

                          ‘Gen-Z’ Protests and

              Digital Activism in Africa

                  While the context and nuances within the ‘Gen Z’ protests in Morocco and Madagascar

                may vary, they share specific common root causes. In both nations, the political elites have

                                       done little to improve the economic plight of their citizens

            ABHISHEK MISHRA                                       The gap between the rich and the poor is evident and growing in both countries (IDSA)

                     ithin a few weeks, young   have any formal leadership? Are they  Egypt, stronger local currencies, and   and  Africa Digital  Rights Hub  are
                     people across the globe   decentralised, or is there a likelihood  growing demand for affordable, low-  leading advocacy efforts for policy
            Whave taken to the streets en     of such movements getting hijacked  cost devices.                   reforms.  Yet,  formidable  challenges
            masse to fight against perceived gov-  by the political class? Given that Gen   African youths have been at the   persist. Low internet penetration in
            ernment corruption and the inability   Z is a digitally tethered cohort who  forefront  of  digital  activism,  using   rural areas and exorbitant data costs
            to deliver public goods worldwide.   widely  use social  media platforms,  social media platforms like Discord,   hinder digital inclusion. Some Afri-
            These protests—dubbed as being led   are recent protests in Morocco and  WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram   can governments use digital surveil-
            by ‘Gen Z’—have spanned countries   Madagascar indicative of the emer-  to amplify their voices and mobilise   lance, censorship and arrests to stifle
            in Africa (Morocco, Madagascar,   gence  of  a  new  toolkit  for  activism  support. With over 70 per cent of   online dissent and prevent mass mo-
            Kenya), Asia (Nepal, Indonesia, Phil-  across Africa?               Africa’s population under 30 years   bilisation. Disinformation campaigns
            ippines), and South America (Peru,                                  old, the continent presents a fertile   seeking to manipulate African in-
            Paraguay). They have sparked violent   WHY IS DIGITAL ACTIVISM IN   ground for digital activism and policy   formation systems have also surged
            clashes with authorities and, at times,   AFRICA SURGING?           advocacy. Some notable movements   in recent years in countries ruled by
            have even turned deadly. Various                                    include #EndSARS in Nigeria,      military juntas. A prominent exam-
            grievances directed at government       he African continent’s digital  #FixTheCountry in Ghana, #ShutI-  ple is the AI-generated disinforma-
            leadership have motivated these pro-    transformation is accelerating,  tAllDown in Namibia, and #Reject-  tion used extensively in Burkina Faso
            tests, ranging from water and electric- Tdriven primarily by a surge in  FinanceBill in Kenya, illustrating the   to create propaganda that portrays
            ity shortages in Madagascar to limit-  digital innovations and smartphone  power of digital platforms to drive   its junta leader, Captain Ibrahim
            ed access to education and healthcare   ownership. Although Africa is bound  social change.           Traore, as a pan-African hero.
            in Morocco to corruption scandals in   by geographical divisions, digital and   African start-ups like Ushahadi
            Nepal and Peru.                   emerging technologies can be import-  (Kenya), BudgIT (Nigeria) and      MOROCCO PROTESTS
                But what underlying causes ex-  ant in unifying the continent. Africa’s  Code for Africa are innovating in the   n late September 2025, Moroccan
            plain such anti-government protests   smartphone market has steadily ex-  digital rights space. Activists and civil   youth called for protests on so-
            worldwide, led by a new generation   panded year-on-year due to easing  society organisations like Paradigm  Icial media using the #GenZ212
            of young adults? Do these protests   inflation in countries like Nigeria and  Initiative, Internet Sans Frontières,   Continued on next page... >>

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