The rapid growth of Africa’s youthful population poses a formidable challenge to long-standing regimes across the continent, warns Kako Nubukpo, a Togolese economist and former minister.
In his latest book, Africa and the Rest of the World: From Dependency to Sovereignty, Nubukpo paints a sobering picture of the continent’s governance crisis, linking recent military coups in West Africa to the failures of urban elites to foster prosperity.
“Recent power grabs by military juntas in West Africa reflect not just the failure of civilian leaders but also offer the youth a proxy form of revenge,” Nubukpo argues.
According to him, the continent’s burgeoning youth population is set to topple even the most robust regimes, which he describes as fragile under the weight of growing disillusionment.
“Youthful demographics in Africa will ultimately bring down so-called strong regimes,” he writes.
“This generation’s rising influence must be acknowledged, not only for its impact on Africa but on global governance as well.”
Nubukpo draws attention to the deep disconnect between the aspirations of young Africans and the opportunities available to them.
He recounts his experience as Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Lomé, where 20 professors cater to 20,000 students, an imbalance that leaves many graduates ill-equipped for the job market.
“These graduates leave university with high expectations but are met with unemployment, creating a wave of urban discontent,” Nubukpo observes.
“This pattern is mirrored across Africa, where youth unemployment and lack of prospects have led to growing frustrations.”
The economist also critiques Africa’s dependence on external systems, particularly neoliberal policies that, in his view, fail to address the continent’s unique challenges.
He advocates for “ecological protectionism” as a strategy to create local jobs and retain talent.
“It’s essential to protect local markets and process raw materials within Africa,” he advises.
“This is the only sustainable way to create wealth and employment for young Africans.”
In his book, Nubukpo dismisses both Western neoliberalism and inward-looking pan-Africanism, instead proposing a “third way” rooted in Elinor Ostrom’s theory of the commons.
This approach emphasizes self-organization within local communities to tackle systemic failures.
Nubukpo’s work challenges African leaders to prioritize policies that harness the continent’s demographic dividend.
“If nothing changes,” he warns, “the immense potential of Africa’s youth may turn from an asset into an existential threat to stability.”
Africa and the Rest of the World was published in October 2024 and runs 208 pages.
