Political Violence in Africa: Causes, Impact, and Real Stories

When we talk about political violence, the use of force or threats to achieve political goals, often targeting civilians or institutions. Also known as civil unrest, it’s not just protests or riots—it’s when power struggles turn deadly, and ordinary people pay the price. In Africa, this isn’t abstract. It’s a mother in Kenya avoiding the streets after an election, a shopkeeper in South Africa boarding up windows after a protest turns violent, or a family in Libya fleeing their neighborhood because armed groups took over the block.

South Africa, a country still healing from decades of institutionalized conflict, where economic inequality fuels sudden outbreaks of anger has seen its share. From SASSA grant protests to clashes over service delivery, the tension isn’t always loud—it’s quiet, waiting. In Kenya, a nation where elections can mean the difference between peace and chaos, viral videos get debunked not because they’re fake, but because the fear behind them is real. Africa Check’s fact-check on Susan Kihika wasn’t just about a clip—it was about how quickly distrust spreads when people believe the system is rigged.

Political violence doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s tied to economic inequality, weak institutions, and leaders who use fear to stay in power. When business confidence drops after an election, as it did in South Africa in 2024, people stop investing. When grants are delayed or cut, desperation grows. And when the media is flooded with misleading videos, the truth gets lost in the noise. This isn’t just about what happens on the news. It’s about the missed school days, the lost jobs, the families split by fear. It’s about the quiet resilience of communities that keep going even when the system fails them.

What you’ll find below aren’t just headlines. These are real moments—where political violence spilled into everyday life. From false videos used to stir anger, to the slow erosion of trust in government, to the economic fallout that follows. These stories show how political violence isn’t a distant event. It’s in the price of bread, the silence of a street, the way people look at their neighbors after a protest. You won’t find sugar-coated analysis here. Just the facts, the fallout, and the people caught in between.