protests

Mozambique’s memory of election violence tests trust in courts and rights to protest When former presidential contender Venancio Mondlane publicly disavowed calls for street demonstrations this week, he was trying to steer what has become an anxious ritual in Mozambique away from confrontation and toward commemoration. “I did not call for demonstrations,” he told supporters; “I called for a day of reflection” to honour those killed in the unrest that followed last year’s disputed election — among them his lawyer, slain…

The Unyielding Call for Justice: A City Divided by Dissent On a seemingly ordinary day in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the air thickens with tension as protesters gather, their chants rising like a storm. Under a veil of clouds and uncertainty, the demonstration unfurls its wings, an echo of a deeper longing for justice and autonomy resonating through the streets. Amid the clamor, one name emerges—Nnamdi Kanu, a polarizing figure whose imprisonment has set aflame a nation’s quest for identity and political agency. The…

Generation Z 212: Morocco's Youth Movement Calling for Change In the bustling streets of Morocco, a youthful chorus of voices is rising. Generation Z 212, a vibrant collective, announced plans for peaceful protests, signaling a renewed call for reform. This movement, once a whisper of public discontent, is evolving into a robust demand for systemic change across the nation. The Roots of the Movement The genesis of Generation Z 212 can be traced back to mid-September, sparked by a tragic incident in Agadir. The deaths of…

Mogadishu on edge: security, protests and the shrinking space for dissent in Somalia When Somalia’s defence minister publicly warned this week that the government will not permit opposition demonstrations in the capital, it was more than a rebuke to critics — it was a message about who will set the rules of political engagement as the country heads into an election season. Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accused opposition figures of being backed by “saboteurs” and of mobilising the poor…

Unrest in Madagascar: A Youthful Cry for Change Amidst Government Reshuffle In a dramatic turn of events that has captivated the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, President Andry Rajoelina announced the dismissal of his government on Monday. This move follows a series of intense, youth-led protests that erupted over severe water and power shortages, leaving at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured. The situation underscores a larger narrative of youthful unrest echoing across different parts of the globe, from Nepal to…

Two killed as Morocco’s Gen Z protests expose a generational fault line When word spread on TikTok and Discord that young people across Morocco would converge on town squares and police stations to demand better schools, clinics and jobs, it felt like an experiment in 21st-century dissent — decentralized, fast and anonymous. What unfolded over a few days was far more combustible. In Lqliaa, near the port city of Safi, police opened fire on a crowd trying to “storm” a police station, killing two people, authorities say. The…

Students Stand Up for Quality Education in Tamale Amid Protests In a scene that unfolded under the scorching sun of northern Ghana, students of Tamale Technical University took to the streets, their voices melding into a chorus of discontent. Their grievances were clear: an increase in tuition fees that they deemed excessive and a perceived lack of accountability from university authorities regarding infrastructure and welfare issues. The situation escalated quickly, as police were reported to have fired warning shots to…

Tragedy in Nairobi: The Death of a Blogger Ignites Protests in Kenya Nairobi's streets swarmed with thousands of protesters on Thursday, driven by demands for justice in the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang, a political blogger whose life was cut short under the shadow of police custody. His story has become a rallying cry against a force that many Kenyans see as oppressive and unaccountable. A Blogger’s Fatal Journey Albert Ojwang's journey from Homa Bay to Nairobi marked more than mere geographic distance. It…

A Year of Tumult: Kenya’s Struggle for Justice On a simmering Wednesday across Kenya, the echoes of a year-old struggle became deafening once more. The nation found itself embroiled in a deadly dance of protest and repression, with at least 16 lives lost, predominantly at the hands of the police. These demonstrations, marking the grim anniversary of previous anti-tax protests, reflect an undeniable discontent with governance, societal inequities, and a longing for justice. The Human Toll “16 verified dead,” stated Irungu…

Tragic news has emerged from Mozambique, where police reportedly opened fire, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals during a demonstration in Namicopo—a densely populated area in Nampula province. This grim incident has pushed the total number of fatalities attributed to police actions to nearly 50, following a series of protests that ignited on October 21, 2024. The turmoil in Mozambique shows no signs of abating, especially in the wake of recent electoral disputes. Venancio Mondlane, the leader of the opposition…