People power challenging African dictators

ACROSS sub-Saharan Africa, a new generation is harnessing the power of non-violent resistance to challenge entrenched autocrats and bring about democratic change.

From Sudan to Zimbabwe to Burkina Faso, mass movements employing strikes, boycotts and peaceful protests have forced the ouster of long-ruling dictators in recent years, often succeeding where armed rebellions failed.

The extraordinary effectiveness of these non-violent campaigns — with a success rate of nearly 60% since the 1970s, higher than any other region — demonstrates the potential for civil resistance to reshape Africa’s political landscape and advance democracy on a continent long plagued by authoritarianism.

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