CIPESA

#DigitalPublicInfrastructure is changing how Africans access services, vote, and transact. But technical integration is moving faster than the safeguards meant to protect rights.

Our State of Internet Freedom in Africa 2026 report recommends:

✅ Governments: assess human rights risks before rollout, keep offline alternatives and end internet shutdowns.
✅ Oversight bodies: regularly audit ID databases and data exchange systems.
✅ Tech firms and telcos: carry out human rights due diligence.
✅ Funders: measure success by inclusion and remedy, not enrolment numbers.
✅ Civil society: engage early in DPI design and procurement.
Read the full report: tinyurl.com/5t3k94dp

#DigitalRights #InternetFreedomAfrica #DPI

The Pan African Lawyers Union(PALU) has requested the African Court(@court_afchpr) for an advisory opinion on whether #NGO laws like heavy registration fees to funding restrictions and criminal penalties, are compatible with the African Charter.

An opinion from the Court would give civil society across the continent a clear answer, and every #AU member state a standard to measure its laws against.

We are backing PALU’s request, because restrictive NGO laws quietly shrink the space for digital rights advocacy too.

Access the full request here: tinyurl.com/yc3n2mvr

#HumanRights #InternetFreedomAfrica

In January 2027, 🇺🇬Uganda’s rights record goes before the #UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review(#UPR) in Geneva.

Our joint report with @APC_News and @wougnet, titled "Human Rights in the Digital Context in Uganda", finds the state has repeatedly fallen short on freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, and data protection.

While #Uganda has made significant strides in e-government services, telemedicine and expanding digital access, the report argues that these advances have not translated into universal, affordable and meaningful connectivity

@observerug’s Frank Kisakye takes stock of the findings in this article: tinyurl.com/4aabksc4
#HumanRights #InternetFreedomAfrica

The future of the #DigitalEconomy must account for the rights, interests and experiences of the people and businesses that make it possible.
Conversations at #FIFAfrica26 brought forward important perspectives on what is at stake in Africa's digital transformation. Reflecting on the Forum, @AnnaKompanek highlights that economic freedom and internet freedom are inseparable!

She points to the complementary strengths that digital rights organisations and business associations bring to this conversation. While #DigitalRights organisations have experience navigating political pressure and defending civic freedoms, chambers of commerce and business associations understand the operational realities of businesses and the economic costs of politically motivated restrictions. 

Bringing these perspectives together could strengthen advocacy and resilience strategies, particularly for smaller businesses and independent local associations that often face similar challenges but lack the resources and support networks to respond.

Africa's digital future cannot be built on investment and innovation alone as it also requires an enabling environment where rights are protected, businesses can operate freely, and policymakers are accountable to the people they affect.

As chambers of commerce from across the G20 gather at the #B20 Summit in Washington, D.C. next week to shape the global growth agenda, #FIFAfrica26 has a message for the room, strong internet freedoms are the foundation of business growth. Open networks, free flow of information and protected rights are what allow businesses to trade, innovate and attract investment. Growth that ignores internet freedom is growth built on shaky ground.

Ultimately, #EconomicFreedom and internet freedom are not competing priorities. They are mutually reinforcing foundations for a thriving digital economy. Find the Reflection here: tinyurl.com/3rc56kzk

#AI was a main theme at the Forum on Business and Human Rights, with speakers urging Uganda to build its own solutions rather than only import them.

On Episode 5 of #BeeraSharp, Dr. Abdul Busuulwa and our own Paul Kimumwe dive deeper into how AI can save small businesses time & money, but comes with inherent risks. These risks can manifest as biased hiring and unfair/skewed loan decisions, and tools that shut out persons with disabilities and speakers of local languages like Luganda.

Their call was to design with local users, keep a human in the loop, and report services that exclude. The AI tools most importantly, have to #BeSafeByDesign.

Watch the full episode:youtu.be/1c22B-tcizs?si…