Since 1997, seventeen African heads of state tried to amend the constitution to expand their term in office when they reached the maximum duration. Most of those attempts to undermine democratic principles happened through institutional means i.e. under a “democratic disguise” and led to popular uprisings. In Burkina Faso and Senegal similar constellations have led to massive uprisings in the run-up to the voting of the National Assembly that hindered both amendments to pass. New leaders from the music and media scene animated the youth to protest and the media to report about their struggle, hence putting pressure on the government to respond. The analysis of Nina-Kathrin Wienkoop from Leuphana University Lüneburg looks at similarities and differences of the development and outcome of both protest movements.