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24Mar

The Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2026 (FIFAfrica26) Heads to Mauritius!

Author CIPESA Posted on

By FIFAfrica |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is excited to announce that the 2026 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (#FIFAfrica26) will take place in Mauritius from September 28 to October 1, 2026. This marks the 13th edition of FIFAfrica, which serves as Africa’s premier platform for advancing digital rights, inclusion, and governance conversations.

Mauritius is Africa’s most stable democracy, with strong rule of law and robust protection for freedom of expression, both offline and online. The country is also a pioneer in technology-driven governance and digital transformation. Hosting FIFAfrica in Mauritius offers a space for policy-oriented discussions on data governance, regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), platform accountability, and digital trade within a context that is progressively navigating these transitions.

Recognised by the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2024 as a continental front-runner in AI adoption, Mauritius has established a National AI Unit, is steadily expanding digital public services, and is pursuing a national strategy for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol. The country is an emerging digital and financial services hub, with notable achievements and ambitions in fintech, cross-border data flows, and digital public services.

It is against this backdrop that over 500 participants will convene at FIFAfrica26 to delve into the evolving digital landscape in Africa and cast a light on the most pressing internet freedom issues today. This builds on a legacy of previous editions hosted in Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Senegal, and Namibia.

FIFAfrica offers a unique, multi-stakeholder platform where key stakeholders, including policymakers, journalists, global platform operators, telecommunications companies, regulators, human rights defenders, academia, and law enforcement deliberate and craft rights-based responses for a resilient and inclusive digital society for Africans.

Key themes at FIFAfrica26 will include:

  • Digital Democracy and Civic Participation
  • Data Governance and Sovereignty
  • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
  • Platform Accountability
  • Digital Inclusion
  • Digital Economy, Trade and Practices
  • Movement Building
  • Digital Security and Safety

The Forum will also serve to gather insights that will shape Africa’s voice in global digital governance processes like WSIS+20. These global processes represent critical opportunities for African voices to influence the emerging digital and AI governance agendas.

Additionally, the 2026 edition of the annual State of Internet Freedom in Africa report will be launched. The reports serve to capture the evolving policy landscape through in-depth research and analysis.

Be part of the #InternetFreedomAfrica movement

Over the years, the Forum has been co-hosted with various government ministries, regional and national partners, and a vibrant network of allies and collaborators. Together, this community has illustrated a commitment towards building an inclusive digital rights and internet freedom ecosystem around the continent.

Partner with us, host a side event, or support the participation of individuals who might otherwise be unable to attend the Forum. Email us at [email protected] or schedule a call with us to discuss how to collaborate with FIFAfrica26.

Next Steps

In the lead-up to FIFAfrica26, please take note of the following important dates.

Important Dates
Opening of registrationApril 7, 2026
Call for proposals and travel support announcementApril 7, 2026 
Closure of proposal acceptance June 5, 2026
Notification of successful applicants Jule 7, 2026
Pre-event daysSeptember 28-29, 2026 
Main event daysSeptember 30 – October 01, 2026

About FIFAfrica

Since its launch in 2014, the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) has grown into Africa’s premier multi-stakeholder convening on digital rights, digital democracy, and internet governance. The Forum has consistently shaped continental and global conversations on freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, data governance, and has integrated more recent shifts in the digital ecosystem including on topics like cryptocurrency, AI, platform accountability, and digital public infrastructure. Visit the FIFAfrica website for updates: https://internetfreedom.africa/

23Mar

CIPESA Public Dialogue Series: Interrogating Digital Public Infrastructure in East Africa

Author CIPESA Posted on

By CIPESA Writer |

Digital transformation is reshaping governance, service delivery, and civic life across Africa. At the centre of this transformation is the growing adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — foundational interoperable digital systems such as digital identity programmes, payment systems, and data exchange frameworks that enable governments to deliver services at scale.

Across Eastern Africa, governments are increasingly investing in DPI as a core pillar of their digital transformation strategies. These systems promise to improve administrative efficiency, expand access to services, and support more inclusive digital economies.

However, DPI is not merely a technical infrastructure. It is also an institutional and political infrastructure. The way these systems are designed, governed, and implemented can shape power relations, accountability structures, privacy protections, and citizen participation in the digital state.

Despite the growing importance of DPI, public debate around these systems remains limited. A study by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) into media coverage of DPI in Eastern Africa shows that reporting is largely government-centric and event-driven, focusing primarily on announcements and service delivery benefits while giving limited attention to governance arrangements, procurement processes, rights protections, and questions of inclusion.

Strengthening informed public discourse around DPI is therefore critical. Greater participation by civil society, journalists, policymakers, technologists, and citizens can help ensure that emerging digital systems are transparent, accountable, inclusive, and aligned with the public interest.

To contribute to this goal, CIPESA is convening a series of public dialogues on DPI in Eastern Africa. Through four in-depth discussions, the CIPESA public dialogue series will explore key dimensions of DPI implementation such as governance and accountability, data protection and trust, inclusion and equity, and cross-regional learning, while bringing together diverse stakeholders to deepen public understanding and encourage more critical engagement with the region’s digital transformation.

The details of the CIPESA Public Dialogue dare listed below. Be sure to mark your calendar for each dialogue!

Follow @cipesaug on social media and join the conversation using #DPIAfrica and #DPIJournalism.

Dialogue 1: Interrogating DPI: Governance, Power, and Accountability

Background: As governments across Eastern Africa accelerate the rollout of Digital Public Infrastructure systems, questions of governance, oversight, and accountability are becoming increasingly important.

While DPI initiatives are often presented as tools for efficiency and innovation, they also shape power relations within the digital state. Decisions about who designs these systems, who controls the data they generate, and how procurement and partnerships are structured can significantly influence how public digital systems operate and whom they ultimately serve.

Yet public scrutiny of these governance questions remains limited. Media coverage frequently focuses on the technical benefits of DPI, such as improved service delivery, while giving less attention to governance arrangements, procurement transparency, and mechanisms for accountability when systems fail.

This dialogue will examine the political economy of DPI, focusing on questions of governance, oversight, transparency, and accountability as the region expands its digital infrastructure.

Date: March 24, 2026 | 15:00 PM Nairobi | Reserve your seat

Dialogue 2: Interrogating DPI: Data, Privacy, and Trust

Background: Digital Public Infrastructure systems depend heavily on the collection, processing, and exchange of large volumes of personal data. While these systems can improve efficiency and coordination across government services, they also raise significant questions about privacy, surveillance, and data protection.

Public discourse around DPI in Eastern Africa has largely focused on service delivery benefits, with relatively limited attention to the risks associated with data governance and citizen trust.

CIPESA’s media analysis similarly shows that journalists tend to under-report issues of data protection, surveillance, and the enforcement of privacy laws, despite growing public concerns about the misuse of personal data and weak institutional safeguards.

This dialogue will examine whether DPI systems in Eastern Africa are being designed and implemented in ways that protect rights and build public trust.

Date: March 31, 2026 | 15:00 PM Nairobi | Reserve your seat

Dialogue 3: Interrogating DPI: Inclusion, Equity, and Gender

Background: Digital Public Infrastructure is often framed as inclusive by design. However, evidence from across Eastern Africa suggests that issues of equity, access, and representation remain underexplored in both policy debates and media coverage.

Media analysis conducted by CIPESA reveals limited reporting on how DPI systems affect citizens differently based on gender, geography, income, and digital access. It also highlights a significant gender imbalance in media sources, with roughly 80 percent of quoted sources being male.

Yet digital systems can inadvertently reinforce existing inequalities if barriers related to connectivity, digital literacy, affordability, identification documents, or social norms are not addressed.

This dialogue will explore whether DPI initiatives are truly delivering on their promise of inclusion, and who may be left behind by digital transformation.

Date: April 7, 2026 | 15:00 PM Nairobi | Reserve your seat

Dialogue 4: Interrogating DPI: Cross-Regional Learning Session

Africa is undergoing a profound digital transformation. The African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) encourages member states to develop Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Public Goods as foundations for inclusive service delivery, digital trade, and economic growth.

However, public participation in shaping these developments remains limited, partly due to insufficient public discourse and limited specialised reporting on DPI and DPGs.

To address this gap, Co-Develop partnered with regional organisations, including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and CIPESA, to establish journalism fellowships focused on DPI reporting in West and Eastern Africa.

MFWA launched the first fellowship in West Africa in 2023, generating valuable lessons and case studies. CIPESA has since adapted the fellowship model for Eastern Africa, creating opportunities for cross-regional learning among journalists and ecosystem actors.

This session will bring fellows and stakeholders from both regions together to share lessons, experiences, and strategies for strengthening public discourse on DPI and DPGs.

Date: April 14, 2026 | 15:00 PM Nairobi | Reserve your seat

19Mar

Webinar: Advancing Platform Accountability for Women’s Online Safety in Africa

Author CIPESA Posted on

By CIPESA Writer |

The right to freedom of information, access to information, and democratic engagement belongs equally to all citizens. Yet across Africa, women and girls continue to face significant barriers that prevent them from exercising these foundational rights in digital spaces. This calls for urgent legal and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that women and girls can safely access, contribute to, and participate in information ecosystems. Furthermore, social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms must address the gendered concerns that impact women’s experiences in online spaces, including disproportionate online harassment, algorithmic discrimination, and digital exclusion. See more here.

In support of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is hosting a webinar titled “Advancing Platform Accountability for Women’s Online Safety in Africa” on Thursday, 19 March 2026 (14:00–15:30 EAT). The webinar resonates with this year’s IWD theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”

Register for the webinar here.

The webinar brings together experts to discuss what efforts are being made to enhance the safety of women in online spaces and to hold platforms accountable. It supports the sentiments of United Nations (UN) General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, who last week, in her opening remarks at the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women, noted that the gaps in legal rights afforded to women are deliberate. She stated that “these are not oversights but deliberate choices — choices that violate the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and 70 years of commitments made in this Commission.”

This webinar serves as a platform for discussion and insight into the various efforts needed to address these gaps. The discussion is open to all and features expert panelists from diverse backgrounds with a vested interest in advancing the safety of women in online spaces.

Meet the Panelists

Barbra Okafor | Founder and Lead Strategist, The Agency Lab

Barbra is the Founder of The Agency Lab, an initiative empowering African creatives and organisations to secure data ownership, protect Intellectual Property (IP), and navigate fair compensation in the AI economy. Drawing on her previous roles as Content Programming Lead at TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa and Senior Producer at BBC Media Action, Barbra translates complex digital transitions into actionable strategies. Her work sits at the critical intersection of the African creator economy, technology, and governance.

Marie-Simone Kadurira | Feminist researcher and communications strategist

Marie-Simone works at the intersection of gender, technology, and social justice. Her work focuses on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), digital rights, and the ways in which online platforms shape access, safety, and agency for women and marginalised communities. She has contributed to research and advocacy efforts examining how online harms disproportionately affect women, particularly in the Global South, and has worked with international organisations to develop policy and communications strategies aimed at strengthening platform accountability and advancing safer digital environments. Her work engages with questions of governance, content moderation, and the structural inequalities embedded within digital ecosystems. She is currently engaged in research on gender-based violence prevention and supports initiatives that centre community-led approaches to justice, safety, and digital inclusion.

Mercy Mutemi | Executive Director, The Oversight Lab Africa

Mercy’s work advocates for fair regulation and deployment of technology across Africa. She focuses on restorative and retributive justice solutions for those who have been harmed by technology. This includes workers who have been exploited to build and maintain technological systems and those who have been harmed by algorithms.  She has worked on several cases and initiatives focused on addressing inequality and the unconsidered consequences of tech algorithms for African communities and societies. She currently represents a cohort of content moderators based throughout Africa in a suit over workplace human rights violations.

Abdul Waiswa | Head of Litigation, Prosecution and Legal Advisory, Uganda Communications Commission

Waiswa works as the Head of Litigation, Prosecution and Legal Advice at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which is the statutory regulator of the converged communications sector in Uganda, with a mandate to license, supervise, and facilitate the development of a robust communication sector in Uganda. He oversees the legal advisory, licensing, and enforcement functions of UCC and supports the implementation of the Government of Uganda’s policies on ICT. Waiswa is a regular participant in national, regional, and international engagements on internet jurisdiction, data, and other ICT-related policy matters.

Lilian Nalwoga | Programme Manager, CIPESA

Lillian has several years of ICT policy research and advocacy experience, having joined the CIPESA as a Policy Officer in 2007. She has facilitated and coordinated ICT policy workshops – including coordinating the East African Internet Governance Forum. Lillian has a Bachelors of Development Studies (Makerere University, Uganda) with a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management as well as advanced training in Internet studies. She holds a Master’s in Digital Media and Society from Uppsala University, Sweden. She is also the former President of the Internet Society (ISOC) Uganda.

The webinar forms part of the #BeSafeByDesign campaign, which calls for improved platform accountability in Africa. The campaign is part of a project supported by the Irene M. Staehelin Foundation. Since December 2025, the project has pursued a series of collaborative activities aimed at improving online safety and governance. These included a convening in Nairobi, Kenya, which served as the launch of the #BeSafeByDesign campaign. The convening assembled human rights defenders and activists from eight African countries for upskilling in digital resilience. In February 2026, a meeting held in Port Louis, Mauritius brought together 30 participants — including judges, magistrates, law enforcement officers, communications regulators, data protection authorities, and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). Participants recommended that African governments strengthen their engagement with big tech companies through regional mechanisms, such as the African Union, to present a more coordinated voice on issues of platform accountability.

18Mar

CIPESA Welcomes the Annulment of Sections of Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Edrine Wanyama |

Uganda’s Constitutional Court has delivered a major ruling that has outlawed several sections of the Computer Misuse Act, Cap 96, and ordered the government and its agencies to stop any further enforcement of the nullified provisions. These stringent provisions had significantly restricted the use of various communication platforms, including social media. The court ruling marks an important step towards ending enduring limitations on freedom of expression, access to information and other online freedoms.

The Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, which introduced a range of offences including unauthorised access, unauthorised sharing of information about children, hate speech, sharing of unsolicited and malicious information, and misuse of social media, has been outlawed in its entirety. These provisions were overly broad, vaguely worded and carried severe penalties.

In response to a number of petitions filed by individuals and civil society organisations, which were consolidated for determination, the Constitutional Court found that the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was passed into law without complying with the provisions of rule 24(3) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, which contravened articles 88 and 89 of the Constitution. Parliament’s rules of procedure and the Constitution require that the quorum should be ascertained before passing of laws.

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), which was a co-petitioner in the case, had in its analysis and comments to the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Communications Technology argued that while addressing cybercrime was necessary, overly broad laws risk shrinking the digital civic space by limiting freedom of expression and access to information.

Moreover, the law was passed long after the Supreme Court ruling in Charles Onyango Obbo and Another v Attorney General, which had outlawed the criminalisation of false news in section 50 of the Penal Code Act. CIPESA had raised concerns about this inconsistency in the law prior to the filing of the petition.

Importantly, the Constitutional Court also struck down sections 162 and 163 of the Penal Code Act, which criminalised defamation. The Court found that these provisions violate article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and are a limitation to the right to freedom of expression, contrary to regional and international human rights standards.

In the lead judgement of Justice Irene Mulyagonja, Court found that:

  • “Parliament passed the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022 into an Act of Parliament without complying with the provisions of rule 24(3) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament made under Article 94 of the Constitution.
  • The enactment of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill into an Act of Parliament without complying with rule 24(3) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament was inconsistent with Articles 88 and 89 of the Constitution, and as a result, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, was null and void.
  • The provisions of the Computer Misuse Act (2023 Edition) that were challenged in Constitutional Petitions 34, 37 and 42 of 2022 are therefore all null and void because they were enacted without following the law.
  • Section 162 of the Penal Code Act contravenes Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and section 163 that defines the term “defamation” therein does not meet the standard of the law that is required by Article 9(2) of the Charter, and is inconsistent therewith to that extent and therefore null and void.”

Uganda has in recent years experienced significant restrictions on digital civic space. During the general elections in January 2026, the government shut down the internet for five days. In 2024, in the lead up to elections, were charged under the annulled law with malicious information on X and insulting the President and the First Family. These actions are often justified on grounds such as preventing online misinformation and disinformation or safeguarding national security, but their broad application raises serious concerns for digital rights and the right to free expression.

Over the years,  several civic actors, including journalists and media professionals, human rights defenders, political opponents, have faced intimidation, arrests, and prosecution under these contentious provisions of the Computer Misuse Law.

Despite the Constitutional Court’s progressive decision, which is a positive step towards enhancing legislative accountability and reaffirming Uganda’s commitments under regional and international human rights instruments, there is no ultimate guarantee that the right to fundamental freedoms and civic liberties guaranteed by the Constitution will be respected.

It should be noted that the Court’s decision largely focused on procedural issues rather than examining the constitutional guarantees on freedom of expression and access to information. This leaves open the possibility that similar provisions could be reintroduced if proper legislative procedures are followed.

Continuous advocacy for progressive provisions remains necessary.

Given the volatile nature of Uganda’s digital space, there is a need for Parliament to ensure harmonisation of national laws with regional and international standards, conduct wide consultations on proposed laws, and undertake human rights impact assessments.

CIPESA welcomes the current judgement as progressive but emphasises the need for decisiveness in implementation of the orders by the court. Without sustained vigilance, restrictive laws in addition to the Uganda Communications Act, Public Order Management Act, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act, the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act and the Anti-terrorism Act may re-emerge in different forms.

The protection and promotion of civil liberties in digital spaces must remain a priority.

11Mar

CIPESA Builds the Capacity of State Actors to Address Online Harms

Author CIPESA Posted on

By CIPESA Writer |

Digital platforms serve as vital spaces for civic participation, political expression, and social mobilisation throughout Africa, including for women, youths, and human rights advocates. However, there has been a rise in digital hams that threaten online rights, safety, and democratic engagement. Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based violence (TFGBV), disinformation, digital surveillance, and increasingly complex attacks made possible by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are all on the rise in African online spaces. The majority of those harmed are journalists, activists, women and girls.

To address these challenges, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) last month convened a two-day regional engagement in Mauritius to explore trends in digital harms and equip state actors with practical tools and guidance to monitor, prevent, and respond to online rights violations. It drew 30 participants from seven countries (Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe). They included judges, magistrates, law enforcement officers, communications regulators, and representatives of data protection authorities and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).

Although the internet and digital technologies have enhanced civic participation and broadened the enjoyment of human rights, they have also brought about new risks for individuals and organisations. Accordingly, the discussion addressed the evolving nature of online harms and their impact on digital rights and democratic engagement.

Across all countries in the region, TFGBV is a major concern. Women in public roles, such as politicians, journalists, and activists, face a rising wave of online harassment, sexualised threats, and disinformation campaigns aimed at intimidating and silencing them. In countries like Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, these attacks increase significantly during elections, compelling numerous women to withdraw from public engagement.

Disinformation and AI-driven manipulation present another concern. Coordinated disinformation campaigns, often amplified by bots and increasingly reliant on synthetic media like deepfakes, influence public opinion and target independent and critical voices. In countries where laws are enacted to address these ills, they often fail to target harmful manipulation and are instead weaponised to suppress legitimate expression.

For instance, laws on cybercrime and “false information”in countries like Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda are often broadly framed, with ambiguous provisions and overly broad definitions and excessive penalties. These laws are frequently applied to detain and prosecute individuals, primarily journalists, bloggers and social accountability activists. Even where prosecutions are rare, the chilling effect on civic engagement is significant.

The engagement also heard that, in several countries, surveillance-enabling measures, from SIM card registration linked to national IDs, to biometric voter databases and interception technologies, have expanded without proper independent oversight.

Speaking at the engagement, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, discussed how her mandate was addressing digital harms and promoting rights. She highlighted the commission’s resolution against internet disruptions and Resolution 591, which addresses the growing issue of violence against women on digital platforms across the continent.

In 2019, the ACHPR adopted the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and has more recently issued resolutions addressing digital violence against women. However, most governments are yet to domesticate and implement these key instruments.

The meeting also underscored how democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space, and the expansion of executive power, as witnessed in several countries, create an environment in which digital harms flourish. While instruments such as the African Charter, the Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provide safeguards, their impact depends on independent courts, empowered regulators, and capable NHRIs.

Participants noted that limited capacity, resources, and coordination across government institutions often undermine enforcement, monitoring, and accountability. The Mauritius engagement therefore, recommended establishing stronger institutional capacity, such as inter-ministerial committees on digital rights, to foster collaboration among key actors responsible for protecting digital rights.

Participants further explored practical approaches to monitoring digital rights violations, supporting survivors of online abuse, and ensuring accountability for harmful online behaviour. These discussions also drew from a handbook developed by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and CIPESA, which provides guidance for NHRIs on monitoring and promoting digital rights.

In particular, the convening challenged NHRIs to play a greater role in addressing digital harms through investigating violations, providing remedies to victims, advising on legislation and standards, and conducting public education.

Another focus of the discussions was the role of technology companies in moderating harmful content. Participants highlighted concerns that major platforms such as Meta and X do not allocate sufficient resources to content moderation in Africa. In many cases, moderation systems rely heavily on automated tools that are poorly adapted to local languages and socio-political contexts, while the number of human moderators covering African content remains limited.

Participants recommended that African governments strengthen their engagement with big tech companies through regional mechanisms such as the African Union, to present a more coordinated voice on issues of platform accountability.

Through this engagement, CIPESA strengthened the capacity of state actors to safeguard digital rights, highlighting that protecting these rights is both their legal mandate and central to growing democratic resilience and inclusion across Africa. The engagement was supported by the Irene M. Staehelin Foundation.

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