Bitcoin Empowers Activists Against Authoritarian Regimes

Farida Nabourema, a prominent activist from Togo, has highlighted the significance of Bitcoin in resistance movements against authoritarian regimes. Born in 1990, Nabourema grew up in Togo, a former French colony that gained independence in 1960. Her early life was marked by the oppressive rule of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who seized power in a violent coup in 1967. Eyadéma was notorious for human rights abuses, economic mismanagement, and cult-of-personality stunts, including reports of entourages of 1,000 dancing women singing his praises.

Nabourema's activism began at a young age. In 2003, her father, Bemba, was arrested and held for three days after participating in a meeting that opposed Eyadéma’s rule. He had also been arrested in 1977 and severely tortured in 1985 over his political dissent. After Eyadéma’s son, Faure, assumed leadership in a closely-contested election following his father’s death, Farida protested at just 15 years old. She joined the Union of Force for Change (UFC), the same political party of her own father. Farida continued her activism even after moving to the US to study in 2008, where she founded a movement called “Faure Must Go” and kept up the grassroots pressure.

The need for Bitcoin became apparent once Farida caught the attention of the corrupt government. In 2014, she published the personal contact numbers for all members of Togo’s Parliament, encouraging her compatriots to call and question their votes against a bill to reinstate presidential term limits. This act led to a viral social media post and subsequent harassment of parliament members. Farida faced personal attacks and smear campaigns, but her following only grew. However, she was forced into exile after her family was threatened upon attempting a return to Togo in 2016. By 2018, she was moving between neighboring countries every few weeks.

The situation was equally sensitive for other local dissidents. Resistance movements require funding, and Farida noted that sending money became difficult because it had to be done without exposing those back home. Linking them to the movement could be costly for their lives. Without financial resources, it is challenging to fight any oppressive system. The regime in Togo has managed to maintain its power by suffocating the movement and the opposition. Bitcoin, with its robust decentralization and pseudonymity, provided a safe way to send and receive funds for resistance activities without any paper trail. The recipient doesn’t need to go to a bank or public institution to withdraw the funds, making it a crucial tool for activists.

Farida has organized the Africa Bitcoin Conference (ABC) for three years running in both Ghana and Nairobi, attracting notable figures like Lightning Labs CEO Elizabeth Stark and Block founder Jack Dorsey. The conference operates a “Bitcoin For Youngsters” program that has trained over 3,000 students in all things Bitcoin and helped Ghanaian high school students celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day. A fourth ABC conference in Mauritius is set for December this year, despite a series of setbacks that led to financial losses and burnout.

Bitcoin's decentralization and pseudonymity make it a critical tool for resistance movements, especially in countries like Togo where financial transactions are closely monitored by authoritarian regimes. For activists like Farida Nabourema, Bitcoin is not just a financial tool but a means of resistance and self-sovereignty. It allows them to operate without the fear of being tracked or exposed, providing a lifeline for those fighting against oppressive systems. Farida's story underscores the importance of Bitcoin as a tool for freedom and resistance, highlighting its potential to empower activists and dissidents in their struggle for justice and democracy.