By Evelyn Lirri | In August 2021, Zambia became the latest country to restrict citizens’ access to social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp as the country went to the polls. Citing the need to stop the spread of election misinformation, the Zambian government disrupted the internet in an election that saw an opposition politician defeat […] Read more
By Richard Ngamita | Disinformation on social media has been a growing concern in global politics for several years, and it is now exploding across Sub-Saharan Africa, where social media-based disinformation campaigns are increasingly being deployed by foreign entities and governments to influence narratives. Several socio-political and economic factors provide fertile ground for disinformation to thrive in […] Read more
By Access Now | Amidst a growing crackdown on media, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians, the Republic of Uganda will hold general elections on Thursday, January 14. With a dark history of internet and social media blocking during national events, and alarming reports of disruptions already emerging, Ugandan voters’ rights to access information and express opinion are under […] Read more
Joint Call | The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has joined a call on the Government of Togo to keep digital communications accessible during its upcoming elections. The country goes to the polls on February 22, 2020, marking the first presidential election since the amendment to the Constitution on […] Read more
Nouveau Rapport | Au cours des quatre dernières années, pas moins 22 gouvernements africains ont ordonné des coupures du réseau Internet. Depuis le début de l’année 2019, six pays africains dont l’Algérie, la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), le Tchad, le Gabon, le Soudan et le Zimbabwe ont déjà connu des coupures d’Internet. Un nouveau […] Read more
#KeepItOn | Nous, la coalition pour un Internet libre et ouvert: Réaffirmons que l’internet ouvert, accessible et sécurisé, en particulier durant les élections, facilite la libre circulation et l’accès à l’information, en plus de favoriser la liberté d’expression en ligne et hors ligne. Nos organisations sont préoccupées par la récente tendance d’interférences illégitimes dans […] Read more
By Juliet Nanfuka | Zimbabwe has experienced a shutdown of social media platforms and major websites as of January 15, 2019 following public protests against a 150% increase in fuel prices. The protests have resulted in the death of at least eight people and arrest of up to 200 others. The disruptions to online communications […] Read more
Announcement | LONDON — Today, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and digital rights group NetBlocks are announcing plans for the Africa launch of the Cost of Shutdown Tool – COST, at the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2018, set to take place 26 – 28 September, 2018, in […] Read more
By Edrine Wanyama | Internet access and Short Message Services (SMS) were interrupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on January 20, 2018 ahead of a peaceful protest march organised by the Catholic Church to compel President Joseph Kabila to step down following the expiry of his final term in office. The country […] Read more
Joint Letter | President Yahya Jammeh cc: Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Gambia Permanent Mission to the United Nations African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 30 November 2016 Your Excellency, We are writing to urgently request that you ensure the stability and openness of the internet during the forthcoming elections in Gambia on […] Read more
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), 2019
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