Africa has a rich history of social and political movements, many of which have had a profound impact on the continent and resonated across the globe. These protests are driven by the relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and democratic freedoms. they have not only transformed their respective nations but also captured the world’s attention.
Below are the 5 biggest protest in africa that shook the world
1. The End SARS Protest in Nigeria.
End SARS was a decentralized social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria that mainly occurred in 2020. The movement’s slogan called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police known for its long record of abuse against Nigerian citizens. The protests originated from a Twitter campaign in 2017, using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the unit’s disbandment by the Nigerian government.
The movement experienced a resurgence in October 2020 following further revelations of the unit’s abuses, leading to mass demonstrations across major cities in Nigeria, and widespread outrage on social media platforms. The hashtag #EndSARS accumulated over 28 million tweets on Twitter alone.
2. Ethiopia’s 2014–2016 Oromo Protests.
The Oromo protests in Ethiopia began in 2014 as a response to the government’s plan to expand the capital, Addis Ababa, into the surrounding Oromia region, which many Oromos saw as a threat to their land and rights. The protests quickly grew into a broader movement against political marginalization, economic disenfranchisement, and human rights abuses faced by the Oromo people.
3. Sudan’s 2018–2019 Protest.
In December 2018, protests erupted in Sudan over the rising cost of living and deteriorating economic conditions, quickly evolving into demands for the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power for 30 years. The protests were marked by widespread civil disobedience and were met with violent crackdowns by security forces.
4. The Arab Spring (North Africa)
The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests that swept across the Arab world in the early 2010s. In North Africa, Tunisia was the catalyst, with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in December 2010 sparking widespread protests against economic hardship, corruption, and political repression.
5. The Kenya Finance Bill protests
The Kenya Finance Bill 2024 sparked a series of unprecedented protests that rocked the nation. Initially, the bill aimed to increase government revenue through new taxes, including a 16% sales tax on bread and a 25% duty on cooking oil. These proposed tax hikes ignited widespread public outrage, especially among the struggling populace.
