African nations continue to struggle with a crippling debt burden, causing them to spend more on debt repayments than on healthcare. Inflation exacerbates this issue, forcing governments to seek new revenue, often through unpopular consumption taxes that disproportionately impact citizens already suffering from economic hardships. In Kenya, protests erupted following the announcement of new taxes on food and consumer goods, leading to the withdrawal of such proposals. This resistance has echoed across the continent, as younger generations advocate for changes to government policies addressing economic inequality.
Many countries are opting for the easiest route, reaping the rewards that hang lowest," says tax expert Alvin Mosioma. "Governments levy consumption taxes because they know that people need to consume. You cannot escape such a tax."
In Kenya, citizens, already reeling from inflation, were enraged by the prospect of new taxes. Popular protests exploded, forcing Ruto to withdraw the plans.
Resistance, supported mainly by Generation Z, also inspired protests in Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana against the increasing cost of living, burdening poorer people.
Each country must calculate the level of wealth individually to tackle inequality, without limiting definitions of wealth to the ultra-rich, like dollar millionaires.
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