Amanuel Tesfaye

Young activists in Kenya sing the national anthem during the country’s Gen Z-led protests in June 2025. Luis TATO/AFP via Getty Images

September 9, 2025

Should African countries lower the voting age to 16? Views from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria

Amanuel Tesfaye, University of Helsinki; Clement Sefa-Nyarko, King's College London; John Mukum Mbaku, Weber State University, and Olawale Bestoyin Kareem, University of Lagos

Would lowering the voting age to 16 enhance young people’s participation in the political processes that affect their lives?

Ethiopians in the US protest against attacks by the Ethiopian government in the Amhara region. J. Countess/Getty Images

April 2, 2025

Amanuel Tesfaye, University of Helsinki and Yared Debebe, University of Gondar

The Fano insurgency is taking place in a territory three times the size of Tigray, stretching the army’s resources.

Ethiopians celebrate Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel Peace Prize win in 2019. Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

December 8, 2022

Lovise Aalen, Chr. Michelsen Institute and Amanuel Tesfaye, Addis Ababa University

Governments coming to power riding a wave of youth protests can employ authoritarian tactics to silence dissent from the same movements.