Africa Brief: 2025 Year in Review
Okay, here’s a summary of the key events and trends in Africa as presented in the provided text, broken down into sections:
1. Economic Developments & Infrastructure:
* Morocco’s Expansion in Western Sahara: Morocco is investing heavily in the disputed Western Sahara region, specifically building a $1.2 billion trading port in Dakhla. this is a point of contention given the disputed status of the territory.
* Job market Struggles: A World Bank report indicates that only 24% of jobs in the region are salaried positions, highlighting a significant issue with employment quality.
2. Political Unrest & Protests (Driven by Gen Z):
* Widespread Protests: Youth-led movements, utilizing social media, organized significant protests across the continent. Thes were triggered by:
* High taxes and perceived disregard for citizen rights (Kenya)
* Poor healthcare (morocco)
* Lack of electricity (Madagascar)
* Root Causes of discontent: The protests stem from deeper issues like corruption, poor governance, and high youth unemployment.
* Military Coups: The unrest created opportunities for military takeovers in:
* Madagascar (October)
* Guinea-Bissau (November)
3. Electoral Issues & Authoritarianism:
* Rigged/Sham Elections: A major trend was the manipulation of elections to maintain the power of incumbent leaders.
* Specific Examples:
* Mozambique: Protests followed the election of President Daniel Chapo and the long-ruling Frelimo party.
* Tanzania: President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured re-election through tactics like jailing opponents and suppressing dissent. She claimed an implausibly high 98% of the vote, and reports suggest over 1,000 protesters were killed during unrest.
* Guinea-Bissau: Public dissatisfaction with the electoral process led to a coup.
* Guinea: Upcoming presidential elections (Dec. 28) are widely expected to result in a win for Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, who originally seized power in a 2021 coup.
In essence, the article paints a picture of a continent grappling with economic hardship, political repression, and a rising tide of discontent, especially among its youth. The response to this discontent has frequently enough been violent suppression and, in certain specific cases, military intervention.