Tanzania’s descent into repression is a stark warning of how fast Africa’s progress can be eroded

Burning buildings and barricades as clashes erupted in Dar es Salaam on 29 October, during Tanzania's presidential elections Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

A renewed sense of hope has taken root across the African continent. It is an optimism resting on solid ground: a booming population expected to surpass 2.5 billion by mid-century; vast reserves of critical minerals, oil and gas; and unprecedented levels of infrastructure investment.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) projects that Africa’s combined GDP could reach $4tn (£3tn) by 2030, driven by green-energy investments, urbanisation and digital innovation. One of their senior economists told me confidently earlier this year: “The future will be written in Africa.”