Localisation is a reality though it's implementation in Africa has been somewhat flawed.
Replacing a guy with 5000TT with one with a shiney new CPL is not in the best interests so far as safety is concerned. From what I hear from friends there, many expats with experience are getting waived, it is more to stop low time guys from EU, USA, Can, Aus and NZ getting a job over the local guys which is a great idea.
Except no low time western pilots got jobs there in the first place and there is little to no government support for local guys to get a cpl and I doubt many people have the means to fork out the cash.
Best case - A flight that would have a 5000TT LHS and a 2000TT RHS crew is replaced by one with a 5000TT LHS and a 300TT RHS crew.
As far as using the USA as an example, well that is laughable. If people believe young pilots with 300TT paying for their RHS jobs and pilots with 2000TT earning 14K USD is good for the industry well, then there goes any hope of aviation being the fine profession it once was...
Hence the guys in the USA have very little opportunity to actually use their CPLs to learn the trade now days.