Africa’s Children Deserve Peace: WhyViolence Must Never Be Our Answer

Africa today stands at a crossroads. The long-rooted effects of mental slavery, colonialism, and
imperialism have washed away many of our indigenous values and replaced them with economic
and political systems grounded in individualism—every man for himself and God for us all. This
erosion of African identity has created a fragile foundation, especially in our post-colonial era
where the struggle to build a unified national identity continues to clash with the legacy of
indirect rule. Before we become power-hungry in the pursuit of leadership, we must understand
and address these inherited challenges.
As generations pass, the quest for power remains a timeless phenomenon. Yet the means we use
to pursue change can shape our destiny for decades. History has repeatedly shown that guns and
violence may bring about change, but the cost is often unbearable. In today’s digital age, social
media has further amplified violent ideologies, giving space for manipulation, emotional
extremism, and mass mobilization that often ends in chaos

How Social Media Has Amplified Violence
Today, misinformation spreads faster than facts. Social media platforms have turned into
breeding grounds for:violent ideologies, propaganda,foreign-sponsored disinformation,and organized mobilization for destructive protests.
Young people are often the most vulnerable, manipulated by online actors who promise quick
change but deliver chaos.
Foreign Influence and the Manipulation of African Instability
As Africans, we must deeply examine what motivates foreign actors to seek influence on our
continent. Africa’s abundant natural resources attract global powers whose intentions are often
rooted in extraction and exploitation not the preservation of our identity. These actors thrive in
confusion, instability, and internal divisions. They continuously plant seeds of discord, knowing
that a fragmented Africa is easier to control.
A practical example is the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, where both Belgium and the CIA
openly sought his downfall. Similarly, foreign powers have funded rebellions and supported
coups against leaders considered “too defiant.” These manoeuvrers have deepened inter-ethnic
and inter-tribal tensions, exploitation of ethnic divisions in countries like Somalia, Libya, South
Sudan, and the DRC pushing communities into conflict while weakening prospects for unity.

The ongoing turmoil in Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya’s post-election violence, and recent
tensions in Tanzania provide valuable lessons for the young generation. These scenarios prove
that violence only benefits those who intend to exploit Africa’s divisions.
One must ask: “Why does it seem easier to obey a foreigner with white skin and fancy
technology than to trust a fellow African—especially when you grew up learning that Africa was
one united state before the 1885 Berlin (Venne) Conference?”
Even independence itself came with strings attached. Former colonizers continue to interfere in
domestic politics, terrified of losing economic privileges

The Dangers of Violent Mobilization in Urban and Political Spaces
In many African cities, especially low-income urban settlements, marginalized populations often
feel excluded from formal political processes. This exclusion pushes some towards violence as a
way to voice frustration. We have seen attempts to mobilize protests sometimes peaceful,
sometimes violent leading to disturbances of public order, unnecessary traffic jams, loss of
business, destruction of property, and confrontations with security forces.
Real examples in Uganda include the dispersal of political rallies in Kampala and Wakiso,
arrests of opponents, circulation of defamatory statements against the Head of State, and violent
confrontations during previous election cycles. While grievances may be legitimate, violent
expression harms the most vulnerable. Another scenario during protests is Kampala Road,
“Smash-and-Grab Incidents”
During traffic disruptions caused by politically motivated demonstrations, several motorists
reported thieves smashing car windows and stealing laptops, handbags, and phones.
These are not just crime statistics—they are reminders that the poorest pay the highest price
when society descends into chaos.
Citizens should instead mobilize peacefully, using their voices, votes, and civic
engagement—not weapons—to demand accountability.

The Painful Aftermath of Violence
Violent revolutions often produce short-lived victories overshadowed by devastating
consequences. Guns destroy cultures, economies, infrastructure, and social norms. The scars of
war take generations to heal.
Western media further complicates this by offering false hopes, glamorizing violent resistance,
and misleading Africa’s innovative youth into believing that quick change must come through
force. Yet, history proves otherwise: societies flourish through stability, not destruction.
Consider the NATO-led interventions in Libya and Iraq. Millions of dollars were pledged for
reconstruction, but these promises pale in comparison to the destruction caused. In Africa, most
weapons used in conflicts from South Sudan to Mali, Nigeria to Congo are imported.

If global superpowers were genuine, they would control arms proliferation and regulate their private
military companies that fuel instability. Instead, military aid often surpasses development
assistance. Why? Because conflict protects foreign interests far more than a united, stable, self-
reliant Africa. The same superpowers preaching democracy get profits from arms sales.
The European Union’s funding policies, which sometimes prioritize border control and military
programs over development, have indirectly worsened poverty and conflict driving migration
and reinforcing dependency.
Post-war reconstruction is costly and traps nations in debt. Debt syndrome erodes goodwill and
development efforts built over decades.

Youth Discontent and the Temptation of Violence
Many young people feel frustrated by economic inequality, unemployment, and political
exclusion. During election seasons, this frustration is magnified. Political actors exploit these
emotions, mobilizing youth through social media, protests, and sometimes manipulation. Yet
even when grievances are legitimate, violence remains a dead end.
Before resorting to force, we must consider the alternatives:
Non-violent resistance,Dialogue and negotiation, Civic activ Diplomacy Legal and constitutional avenues
Examples like Mahatma Gandhi’s independence movement in India, Martin Luther King Jr.’s
during the U.S. civil rights struggle, and Africa’s own non-violent traditions prove that peaceful
resistance is powerful, sustainable, and constructive. These examples show that non-violence is
not weakness—it is strategy, discipline, and moral strength.

Our African Heritage: Ubuntu as a Guiding Light
African societies once thrived on the values of Ubuntu—togetherness, harmony, shared
responsibility, and collective problem-solving. These values held leaders accountable and built
strong, resilient communities.
Today, we must revive Ubuntu. Without peace, what becomes of our multibillion-dollar
infrastructure roads, airports, power stations built with borrowed funds from the World Bank,
Exim Bank, and other partners? If violence takes precedence, who will repay the debts or rebuild
what is destroyed?

A Call to Action: Choosing Peace Over Destruction
The emotional, social, and economic toll of violence is crippling. Families break apart. Children
grow up traumatized. Economies collapse. Infrastructure takes decades to rebuild. No violent
revolution in Africa has ever produced long-term prosperity only cycles of revenge, repression,
and reconstruction.

Examples exist across Africa:
– Sudan’s 2019 revolution, which—despite achieving political change left deep economic
and humanitarian wounds.
– Kenya’s post-election violence, which resulted in loss of life and economic collapse in
affected communities.
– Libya and Somalia, where foreign interventions and internal armed conflict erased
decades of development.
Let us choose leaders of integrity, those who see leadership as service, not an opportunity for
personal enrichment. Rather than falling for empty promises and manipulative tactics, Ugandans
must seek out leaders who prioritize the public good.
The South Sudan conflict is a painful reminder: societies flourish only when not trapped in
endless cycles of violence.
Before lifting a stone, raising a gun, or sharing a harmful post online, let us reflect on the long-
term effects of our actions. Africa’s future depends on peace, dialogue, and understanding not
violence. Violence brings instant satisfaction to a few, but long-term suffering to millions.

MATHIAS RUKUBA
Security Management Advisor
Security & Strategic Studies Afrocentrist

+256773061600