Cameroon’s Crisis and the Sahel’s Defiance: How Gen Z is Leading Africa’s New Wave of Decolonisation

Together, they are built the Alliance of Sahel States — a bloc sharing security, resources, and political will. For the first time in decades, the region proclaims: “We will no longer be France’s military backyard.”

By The Independentist — Editorial Desk

Across Africa, the tide is turning. In the Sahel, nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have pushed France out of their barracks and off their economic checkbooks. In Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, once considered Paris’s coastal anchors, the last French bases are shutting down. Meanwhile, Cameroon stands as a warning — drowning in debt and corruption, still trapped in the shadow of neocolonial bargains.

But in every protest, in every digital campaign, and in every demand for sovereignty, one generation is rising above the noise: Gen Z Africa. Connected, restless, and unafraid, they are refusing to inherit dependency. This is not just politics — it is a new wave of decolonisation. And it’s being written by the youth, for the future of the continent.

The Warning of Cameroon

Cameroon is a country rich in natural resources, yet overwhelmed by debt and corruption. Billions are borrowed in the name of development, but hospitals remain understaffed, youth unemployment soars, and the streets echo with frustration.

It reveals the danger of remaining trapped in colonial-era economic structures — the CFA franc, debt dependency, and political elites who treat public office as private business. For Africa’s Gen Z, Cameroon is a cautionary tale: without courage to break free, sovereignty is reduced to a flag without substance.

The Sahel’s Defiance

By contrast, the Sahel has chosen defiance. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have refused to let their future be dictated from Paris. Since 2022, they have expelled French troops, annulled military accords, and begun removing France from their economic systems.

Together, they are building the Alliance of Sahel States — a bloc sharing security, resources, and political will. For the first time in decades, the region proclaims: “We will no longer be France’s military backyard.”

The road ahead is not easy. Terrorist threats, fragile economies, and sanctions weigh heavily. But the courage to say “enough” has marked a historic turning point. And in every rally that supported these decisions, it was the youth, Gen Z, who filled the streets, carried the banners, and raised the chants.

The Coast Awakens

The wave spread to the coast. In February 2025, Côte d’Ivoire ordered French troops to leave. In July, Senegal followed, shutting down bases that had existed for 65 years. These decisions would have been unimaginable a decade ago, but today they are reality.

For the coastal nations, this is about rewriting the rules: no longer depending on France for military protection, no longer outsourcing sovereignty, but taking responsibility for their own security and future. Once again, it was the pressure of youth, the spirit of Gen Z, that gave governments the courage to act.

The Role of Gen Z

What does this mean for Africa’s young generation — the digital warriors, the protesters, the innovators?

It means they are the engine of Africa’s Second Liberation. The grandparents fought colonialism with rifles and rallies. Today’s youth fight neocolonialism with smartphones, creativity, and relentless courage.

When they demand transparency, they weaken corruption. When they expose injustice online, they pierce propaganda. When they march in the streets, they remind leaders that sovereignty belongs to the people.

Decolonisation is no longer about lowering one flag and raising another. It is about breaking debt traps, rejecting corruption, dismantling unfair trade, and ending dependency once and for all.

Closing Call-to-Action

The torch of freedom has now passed to Africa’s Gen Z. Cameroon shows the danger of waiting. The Sahel shows the power of action. Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal show that even the strongest colonial bonds can be broken.

Refuse to inherit debt without dignity. Refuse to accept corruption without accountability. Refuse to live in dependency when freedom is within reach.

This is Africa’s new wave of decolonisation. Not for tomorrow. Not for the next generation. But for the youth of today.

Rise, resist, rebuild. The future is yours to claim.

The Independentist — Editorial Desk