It is an odd thing to wake up in Africa and watch the world unravel over breakfast. One moment, the West was lecturing us about democracy; the next, it was setting itself on fire with nationalism, outright racism, and a stunning dedication to irrational leadership. The great torchbearers of liberal values seem to have fumbled the baton, and now we must ask ourselves: is this our moment to run with it, or do we just sit back and enjoy the show with a bag of popcorn?
Let’s start with the absolute lunacy on display. Donald Trump is back in the White House, defying every prediction that democracy would stop his return. The man who once incited an insurrection is now the president again, and this time, he has learned from his mistakes—or rather, how to avoid consequences. His right-hand man? Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest disruptor, now fully embedded in the corridors of power, shaping policy through social media tantrums and billion-dollar influence. Musk has suggested on social media that it is time for the US to exit NATO and the UN, aligning with Trump’s moves to withdraw the US from key international organisations like the World Health Organisation and the UN Human Rights Council. These steps signal a potential shift towards an isolationist foreign policy, breaking away from the established US-led international order since World War II.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the continent that once prided itself on ‘never again,’ war drums are beating so loudly that even those of us in Africa can hear them over the din of our own crises. With NATO and Russia locked in escalating conflict and whispers of wider war no longer whispers at all, the specter of another great global conflict is creeping back into politics, dragging its old baggage of nationalism, xenophobia, and cold-blooded strategic alliances. The European Union, once a beacon of stability, is struggling to contain the chaos as countries slide further into isolationism and right-wing extremism.
Closer to home, South Africa finds itself in the crosshairs of this new world disorder. Trump, with Musk whispering in his ear, has threatened to cut all funding to South Africa over what he calls a human rights violation—a move that reflects Musk’s repeated and false claims over the years that authorities in his country of birth are anti-white and even encouraging the killing of white people. This narrative, amplified by figures like Trump and Musk, has not only distorted the reality of land reform in South Africa but has also fueled the far-right’s broader agenda in many Western countries.
Corporate Kiss Ass
Adding to the global turmoil, major U.S. corporations are capitulating to the administration’s pressure by dismantling their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Companies like Deloitte, Google, and Target have significantly reduced or entirely eliminated their DEI programs, citing the need to comply with new federal directives. This retreat not only undermines decades of progress toward workplace equality but also emboldens regressive ideologies that threaten the very fabric of pluralistic societies. The rollback of DEI initiatives is part of a broader corporate trend under the new Trump administration, which has issued executive orders targeting diversity policies.
The corporate kowtowing doesn’t stop there. Brands like Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s, once vocal supporters of inclusive policies, are now conspicuously silent or actively reversing their stances to align with the prevailing political winds. Coca-Cola, in particular, faces boycotts in Mexico and among Latino communities in the United States, accused of betraying the very consumers who helped build its empire. The Latino community has united on social media to boycott various American brands or those supporting Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, like Coca-Cola, one of the most consumed soda brands worldwide.
Trade wars
As if this weren’t enough, the United States has reignited trade wars with Canada and Mexico, imposing hefty tariffs and straining diplomatic relations. In retaliation, Mexican consumers have launched boycotts against iconic American products, notably Coca-Cola, symbolizing a broader rejection of U.S. economic aggression. In response to the threats from United States President Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico, the Latino community has launched a call for a massive boycott against major U.S. brands that don’t support Latinos.
So, as Africans, what do we do with this mess? Should we laugh at the irony? Should we tell Europe and America, “We told you democracy isn’t as easy as you made it sound”? Or should we be deeply, deeply worried?
For decades, African nations have been the unwilling recipients of democracy sermons. We’ve been scolded, sanctioned, and lectured about good governance. Now, the very powers that preached to us are tearing down their own democratic institutions, undermining their own elections, and flirting with authoritarianism like teenagers who just discovered rebellion. It is the kind of tragicomedy that would be hilarious if it weren’t so dangerous.
But—and this is the real twist in the tale—Africa now has an opportunity. While the West turns on itself, we can define what democracy means for us. We can build systems that work for our realities, instead of copy-pasting Western models that seem to be falling apart anyway. Maybe we take the best parts of democracy—accountability, participation, human rights—and leave behind the dysfunction, the hyper-partisanship, and the blind belief that capitalism alone can keep democracy afloat.
This means challenging the deeply ingrained notion that democracy must always mirror Western institutions. Africa has already experimented with homegrown governance systems—from Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism to Kenya’s decentralization under devolution. Some have worked; others have floundered. But what remains clear is that the rigid transplantation of Western democratic norms has often been incompatible with Africa’s socio-political realities. Instead of waiting for external validation, it’s time we forge our own models of democratic governance, rooted in local traditions, participatory decision-making, and a genuine commitment to serving citizens rather than elites.
To do this, we must invest in local governance structures that empower communities, ensuring that democracy is not merely a five-year cycle of elite negotiations but a daily exercise in accountability.
“We, in Africa, have no more need of being ‘converted’ to socialism than we have of being ‘taught’ democracy. Both are rooted in our past – in the traditional society which produced us.”
The late President Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania
We must build independent African media ecosystems that combat disinformation, create technological platforms for citizen participation, and construct economies that prioritize inclusive growth rather than enriching a small political class.
We must also guard against complacency. If history has taught us anything, it is that Africa has often been treated as collateral damage in global conflicts. Whether through proxy wars, economic exploitation, or extractive diplomacy, we have suffered because we lacked the power—or the will—to shape our own futures. But today, we have agency. The question is whether we will use it.
We are at a crossroads. We can either be passive spectators of this global chaos, watching as democracy burns itself down, or we can start shaping a governance model that actually works for Africa. One where leaders serve their people instead of looting state coffers. One where elections are about policies, not ethnic alliances. One where truth matters, and history is not rewritten for convenience. One where we harness the power of our youth, the energy of our grassroots movements, and the resilience of our communities to craft a future that is uniquely African—and unmistakably democratic.
So, Africa, what will it be? Marshmallows or fire extinguishers?
Also read: Can Open Government really change the World?
