By Bunmi Yekini
The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec) Coalition has launched two significant publications to commemorate a decade of promoting and defending digital rights across Africa. The reports assess the impact of the Declaration over the years and highlight emerging challenges in the evolving digital landscape.
The announcement was made on February 11, which marked Safer Internet Day, a global event dedicated to fostering safer and more responsible use of digital technologies, particularly among children and young people. The AfDec Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to a secure, inclusive, and human rights-respecting digital environment.
The first report, Ten Years of Building a Movement for Digital Rights in Africa: Impact of the African Declaration on Rights and Freedoms in Africa, was authored by Koliwe Majama, a Zimbabwean digital rights activist. It details the coalition’s achievements, advocacy efforts, and the role of the Declaration in shaping policies and promoting online freedoms.
The report highlights the Declaration’s 13 principles, which have guided policy development, advocacy, and research across the continent. It states:
“Over the past decade, coalition members have drawn both directly and indirectly from its principles to guide their respective portfolios. The principles are frequently referenced in lobbying and advocacy work, as well as in the development, implementation, and monitoring of policies and regulations, research activities, and capacity-building initiatives targeting diverse stakeholders.”
According to the report, 201 documented cases of the Declaration’s principles being applied in real-world policy and advocacy efforts are available on the coalition’s official website.
The second report, “Emerging Issues in Digital Rights in Africa: A Discussion Paper for the AfDec Coalition,” written by Edetaen Ojo, a Nigerian digital rights advocate, examines the continent’s evolving digital rights landscape. It highlights key challenges such as:
- Algorithmic bias and discrimination
- Data privacy and sovereignty
- Equitable access to digital infrastructure
- Surveillance abuses
- Digital inclusion of marginalized communities
The report argues that updating the African Declaration is necessary to ensure it remains an effective framework for addressing new digital rights challenges.
Zoé Titus, Executive Director of the NMT Media Foundation in Namibia and Chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), edited the reports. She emphasized their significance in equipping policymakers, activists, and other stakeholders with the knowledge needed to advance digital rights across Africa.
“These publications are a testament to the progress made and the challenges that remain as we strive to ensure that every African can enjoy their digital rights without fear or discrimination,” Titus stated. “We hope they will serve as valuable resources for policymakers, activists, and all stakeholders invested in a free, open, and inclusive internet.”
As digital transformation accelerates on the continent, the coalition calls for a collaborative effort to protect online freedoms and ensure an inclusive digital future for all Africans.