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Photo by Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

Protesters holding a banner saying, Oromo lives matter, during the demonstration. Ethiopian Oromo community in London protest demanding justice for Slain singer, Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. Haacaaluu sang in the Oromo language, Ethiopias largest ethnic group and his music became the melody of a protest movement that helped bring down Ethiopia's government in 2018.

Deep Dive: Protest Movements Across the Continent

Here is a detailed look at the major protests which have engulfed a number of African countries thus far in 2020.

This year, although only seven months in, has and continues to be an eventful one across all fronts. While the entire world is collectively reeling from the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there have been considerable shifts on the socio-political landscapes of many African countries. As a result, there have been a number of mass demonstrations taking place across the continent as those who are fed up by the alleged corruption, increasing poverty and inequality at the hands of their respective governments, have said "no more". From anti-government protests in Algeria to youth protests against police brutality in Kenya, here is a list of the major protest action currently taking place (or that has already taken place) across the continent.

This list is in no particular order.


Ethiopia, January 2020

Protesters holding a banner saying, Oromo lives matter,

Photo by Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

Ethiopia's most recent protests come after the death of popular Oromo musician Hachalu Hundessa, whose music is credited for giving voice to the Oromo Lives Matter movement. Hundessa was gunned down last month in Addis Ababa although the details around his death are not yet known. Almost two weeks ago, protests erupted in the Oromia region and led to the death of at least 145 civilians and another 10 in the capital, according to the BBC. Ethnic tensions in Ethiopia continue to worsen under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

At the beginning of this year, thousands of Ethiopians took to the street to protest against the government's failure to locate 18 students who had been abducted towards the end of 2019. The students, who are from the Amhara community in the northern parts of Ethiopia, were studying at Dembi Dollo University. Although some believed that the Oromo Liberation Army was behind the abductions, the army refuted the allegations and cast the blame on the government instead.

Nigeria, January 2020

Several mass protests against continued gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria have been taking place since 2019. Last year, Nigerian women protested the spate of murders of at least eight women in various Port Harcourt hotels. Last month,#JusticeForUwa saw many Nigerians demanding justice for 22-year-old student Vera Omozuwa who was attacked and murdered by a group of men while in a Benin City church. That online movement then grew into the much larger #WeAreTired movement which was championed by the likes of Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Don Jazzy. By the end of June, the Nigerian government had declared a state of emergency on rape in the country.

Guinea, January 2020

Protesters confornt the army in the streets in Conakry on March 22, 2020, during a constitutional referendum in the country.

Photo by CELLOU BINANI/AFP via Getty Images.

There have been massive anti-government protests in Guinea since last year. The protests come after President Alpha Condé announced that his government would be looking into a new constitution which would allow him to remain in power for a third term. The protests, which are largely concentrated in Conakry, Boffa and N'Zerekore, have resulted in the deaths of at least seven people thus far. Additionally, six protesters were recently killed following clashes with the police over measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. Citizens were reportedly frustrated by alleged corruption at the hands of authorities.

Zimbabwe, January 2020

A doctor with a loud hailer shouts slogans during a protest march by senior medical doctors in Harare, on December 4, 2019.

Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images.

Anti-government protests have been taking place in Zimbabwe since last year. While the government, under current President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership, has been condemned for the police violence targeting protesters from the opposition, there have been additional protests led by health professionals in the country. Doctors downed their tools and took to the streets for over four months demanding better pay and working conditions––conditions which have only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protests eventually came to a halt when Zimbabwean telecoms billionaire Strive Masiyiwaannounced that he would set up a fund which would help doctors manage living costs.

Fresh protests threaten to erupt, however, following the arrest of prominent journalist Hopewell Chin'ono whose work has exposed the alleged corruption by the government during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Chin'ono was arrested alongside opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume and kept on charges of "incitement to participate in public violence".

Senegal, January 2020

Similar to the protests in Guinea, mass demonstrations erupted in Senegal's Dakara, Mbacké, Touba, Tambacounda and Diourbel with youths taking to the streets to protest against the curfew and ban on regional travel amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 were reportedly causing further economic hardships for the youth and their livelihoods.

The Gambia, January 2020

Demonstrators against the regime of Yahya Jammeh, the former President of the Gambia, gather in the streets during a demonstration asking for Yahya Jammeh to be brought to justice in Banjul on January 25, 2020.

Photo by ROMAIN CHANSON/AFP via Getty Images.

The protests in The Gambia are complex. Initially, protests at the beginning of this year were in support of former President Yahya Jammeh's safe return from exile after the politician claimed he had been "driven out of the country". Jammeh ruled the West African country for over two decades and subsequently lost to current President Adama Barrow in the national elections back in 2017. On the other hand, many other Gambians, along with the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, insisted that Jammeh return so that he could be arrested, charged and prosecuted for the crimes committed during his rule. There have also been continued protests calling for President Barrow to step down. After being sworn into office in 2017, President Barrow was only meant to be in office for three years. However, he has recently backtracked on that commitment which has subsequently given rise to the "Three Years Jotna" movement.

Liberia, January 2020

Liberia has been engulfed in anti-government protests for a while. Protesters have called for current President George Weah to resign following what they describe as a failure to resolve the country's dire economic situation in addition to rampant corruption by government officials. Back in June of last year, Liberians protested for the first time since President Weah took office in 2017. Failing to adequately address an investigation which uncovered the disappearance of millions of dollars, the government then restricted internet and social media access shortly before the protests took place.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), January 2020

In January of this year, students in the DRC protested against the increasing cost of tuition at Kinshasa University. After students were forced to vacate the university premises by police, President Felix Tshisekedi was reportedly set to meet with student leaders to discuss a way forward. In 2019, students at Lubumbashi University had protested against hikes in tuition fees as well as infrastructural issues. At least four people were killed during those protests, according to IOL.

Uganda, February 2020

Stella Nyanzi (C), a prominent Ugandan activist and government critic, is arrested by police officers as she organised a protest for more food distribution by the government to people who has been financially struggling by the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Kampala, on May 18, 2020.

Photo by SUMY SADURNI/AFP via Getty Images.

There have been numerous protests which have taken place in Uganda since last year. Students at Makerere University staged "Fees Must Fall" protests towards the end of 2019 while anti-governments protests against President Yoweri Museveni have been led by opposition leader Bobi Wine earlier this year, in the run-up to the 2021 presidential elections. More recently, activist Stella Nyanzi was arrested after protesting against the slow distribution of food during the country's lockdown.

Algeria, March 2020

People chant slogans at a weekly anti-government demonstration in the capital Algiers on March 13, 2020.

Photo by Billal Bensalem/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Protests in Algeria began last year in February shortly after then President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he would be running for a fifth term in office. While the statesman eventually stepped down, following a two-decade long rule, mass demonstrations continued every week thereafter with protesters demanding that his entire government step down as well. In March of this year, protesters called off the weekly demonstrations for the first time in over a year amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mali, April 2020

There have been ongoing anti-government protests in Mali as protesters call for political reforms and the resignation of current President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. This comes after Malians headed to the voting stations in a long-delayed election this March. At least 11 people have been killed in the most recent protests where police and security forces used lethal force to disperse crowds of protesters. Both regional and international bodies have condemned the use of lethal force by the Malian government with the presidents of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Niger set to meet with President Keita in the hopes of mediating the ongoing conflict. The West African country has been engulfed in jihadist conflict since 2012 and at least 600 civilians have been killed as a result.

South Africa, June 2020

There have been a number of protests in South Africa this year. However, the major demonstrations thus far have been in support of the Black Lives Mattermovement with specific reference to instances of police brutality and gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. Since the country's national lockdown began a few months ago, several Black South Africans namely Collins Khosa, Sibusiso Amos, Petrus Miggels and Adane Emmanuel, have been killed by the police and/or members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Additionally, the GBV and femicide crisis has also continued to worsen despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenya, June 2020

Last month, Kenyans took to the streets to protest police brutality in the country which had claimed the lives of 15 people, according to a report by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The deaths were reportedly a result of a dusk-to-dawn curfew set in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. It is alleged that there had been numerous instances of law enforcement using excessive force and brutality.

Namibia, October 2020

Protesters hold placards while they gesture during the second day of the #ShutItDown Protests, where hundreds of Namibian youth protested against gender-based violence by shutting down Windhoeks Central Business District, in Windhoek, Namibia, on October 9, 2020.

Photo by HILDEGARD TITUS / AFP) (Photo by HILDEGARD TITUS/AFP via Getty Images).

Following the death of a 22-year-old Namibian woman named Shannon Wasserfall, who reportedly went missing in April of this year, Namibian youth have since taken to the streets to protest against gender-based violence (GBV). Dubbed the #ShutItDown protests, demonstrations outside government buildings have been taking place with young women, university students and high school girls at the helm. The Southern African country has reportedly recorded at least 200 cases of GBV every month.

Nigeria, October 2020

#EndSARS: Nigerian protests against police brutality.

Photo by Rachel Seidu.

Over the past few weeks, Nigerian youth have taken to the streets to protest against continued police brutality in the country. The #EndSARS protests have called upon President Muhammadu Buhari to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which has been implicated in the harassment, abductions, torture and murder of Nigerians since its establishment back in 1992. However, while there are reports that SARS has been disbanded, these are in conflict with other reports that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, plans to reform the unit instead. Additionally, the 2020 protests are not the first. Protests calling for the disbanding of SARS in Nigeria were reported as far back as 2017.

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Kenyan Senator Sparks Debate About "Period Shaming"

Kenyan Senator Gloria Orwoba received opposition from colleagues after pulling off a stunt to raise awareness around "period stigma."

A Kenyan senator was relieved from her duties at the Kenyan parliament after attending a Senate hearing session wearing a white suit stained with red, in what was a menstrual activism campaign.

The senator is Gloria Orwoba and she is a part of the ruling coalition. On Tuesday afternoon, she was due to table a motion on a bill that would give out free sanitary pads to some of Kenya's underprivileged. During the session, Kenyan senators disrupted Tuesday’s afternoon senate session to draw the Speaker’s attention to Orwoba’s “inappropriate dress code."

In response to the allegations, Orwoba protested that it was unbecoming for members of the parliament to call her out because she was on her menstrual cycle.

“I am shocked that someone can stand here and say that the House has been disgraced because a woman has had her periods,” Orwoba said.

In response to her comment, Amason Kingi, Speaker of the Senate of Kenya, asked Orwoba to change her outfit before returning to the chambers.

“Having periods is never a crime… Senator Gloria, I sympathize with you that you are going through the natural act of menstruation, you have stained your wonderful suit, I’m asking you to leave so that you go change and come back with clothes that are not stained,” Kingi said, according to BBC.

According to The Star, the stain was artificial coloring, and not blood.

While talking to BBC, Orwoba said that she was proud of the stance she took in an effort to dismantle period shame.

"Since I am always advocating against period shame, I thought I should go ahead and walk the talk," Orwoba said.

Following the incident, several senators criticized her stance, stating that it was not appropriate.

Tabitha Mutinda, an active member of the senate stated that she found Orwoba's conduct uncomfortable and inappropriate.

"You don't understand if she's on the normal woman cycle or she's faking it, and it is so indecent," Mutinda said before adding that there were better ways to address the issue.

Orwoba is advocating for a motion that increase government funding for free female hygiene products and menstrual pads in all public schools, and end "period stigma." The incident at the senate building was apart of her advocacy.

In an interview with Hot 96 FM in Kenya, Orwoba said she has received hateful comments on social media since her act. So much so that she talked about stepping away from social media.

“This thing of having thick skin is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, I am really contemplating leaving Twitter…that whole cyber-bullying has gotten to me. It’s intense and it gets to you,” Orwoba said.

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Jada Pinkett Smith on How She Found Her Queen Njinga for Netflix’s 'African Queens'

Hollywood star Jada Pinkett Smith and British-Nigerian actor Adesuwa Oni join forces to bring Netflix's 'African Queens: Njinga' to life.

Executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, Netflix's new docudrama, African Queens: Njinga, explores historical lives of African queens. With a four episode focus on Angola’s Queen Njinga for its first installment, Netflix presents a nuanced portrait of a 17th century warrior-ruler known for her diplomatic and military skills—as well as being the first female ruler in Angola.

Played by British-Nigerian actor Adesuwa Oni, the series tracks Queen Njinga's rise to power and how she fought to protect the people of Ndongo (which is now Angola.) For Pinkett Smith, it's important to tell stories around overlooked figures like Njinga. “We have so much historical literature around the queens of England, but that’s not the case with Black African queens," Pinkett Smith told OkayAfrica during an interview. "So it was important for me to do a docudrama to be educated around the lives of these women."

While Pinkett Smith can be heard as a narrator in the docuseries, Oni is the star; and her path to playing the Queen started with her agent sending her a request for a self-tape. Starting with three excerpts from the script—with three different scenes at different points of the queen’s life—she recorded and sent it in for consideration, hoping for the best.

“From what I understand, it was quite a wide search in terms of that first round, and I am very grateful that what I found in those scenes. [It] was a very potent understanding of Njinga,” Oni said.

As an actor who isn’t new to the screen—with short performances in shows such as The Witcher and Years and Years—Oni, who had never heard of Queen Njinga, researched the project and the writers, trying to get a glimpse of what she was working with. “A few weeks after submitting the tape, I had a recall and went in for a face-to-face meeting with the director and casting directors, and I had a great time working the scenes with them,” she said. “And about a week later, I remembered they never tested a particular scene, and said to myself, ‘I’d be amazed if they just offered it to someone without testing them because they must really trust them,’ and literally, the next day, my agent said they wanted to see me again.”

Jada Pinkett Smith saw Oni’s tape for Njinga and knew she was the one. Photo by Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic

When Pinkett Smith, who was involved in the casting process, saw Oni’s tape for Njinga, she knew she was the one. “She had such formidable strength but also a level of vulnerability that I loved as well," she said. "She’s very nuanced, and I’m always looking for that as an actress because these characters are nuanced.”

Alongside Chipo Kureya (Kambu) and Marilyin Nnadebe (Funji)—who both play Oni sisters in the docudrama—the show also elevates the idea of sisterhood, a dynamic Oni enjoyed while playing the role. “The family dynamic behind the scenes, on and off set, was a beautiful safety net,” she said.

Stories like Queen Njinga’s importance in society can not be overemphasized because they haven’t yet been told in a reliable manner. The only way for younger generation to know more about these stories, according to Oni, is they are documented—and documented well.

With a second season that will follow Cleopatra’s life coming to Netflix, Pinkett Smith hopes the show can pierce some of the stereotypes about Black Americans and Black Africans. “I want people to take pride in the essence of what we are all together, and what we’ve done to overcome everything we’ve faced,” she said.
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Photo By Tara Mette/AFP via Getty Images

US First Lady Jill Biden Kicks Off Two-Country African Tour in Namibia

United States First Lady Jill Biden has embarked on a five-day, two-country African tour; her first stop is Namibia.

As part of the United State’s efforts to increase engagement with African countries—and counteract China’s massive influence on the continent—First Lady Jill Biden has kicked off a five-day, two-country tour. The main objective of the visit will be to hone in on addressing some of the continent’s pressing issues, which include empowering vulnerable communities and addressing food insecurity. Biden kicked off her tour in Namibia on Wednesday as part of the push the US’s economic involvement with the African continent.

When Biden arrived, she was welcomed by Namibian dancers, drummers as well as Namibia's first couple, President Hage Geingob and First Lady Monica Geingos. During the US.-Africa Leaders Summit last year,President Joe Biden told African leaders in attendance that the US government was fully committed to the continent's development and shared that his wife would be visiting in 2023. Historically, the United States has fallen short of investing in Sub-Saharan Africa, and China has had a stronger commercial presence throughout the continent. In an effort to bridge the gap and establish itself as a major economic competitor, the US has embarked on the process of re-engaging Africa, by investing in climate change, government health, and infrastructure. Following the summit, the White House had announced that President Biden and his cabinet had established a President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The statement had also acknowledged the importance of the African Diaspora and its contribution to American society at large.

“The African Diaspora in the United States is a source of strength, and encompasses African Americans — including descendants of enslaved Africans — and nearly two million African immigrants who have close familial, social, and economic connections to the African continent,” the statement said.

In a statement obtained by AP News, Jill Biden had said that there was “a lot to accomplish” during her trip to Africa.

Biden’s next stop is in Kenya, where according to The Hill, she will “look at the impacts of drought on families and communities hardest hit.”
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