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AFEX-IFEX Statement-SOUTH SUDAN: AFEX and IFEX express solidarity against the attacks on Association for Media Development in South Sudan

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AFEX-IFEX Statement-SOUTH SUDAN: AFEX and IFEX express solidarity against the attacks on Association for Media Development in South Sudan

4 November 2025

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and IFEX  stand in solidarity with their member, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), against the online attacks discrediting their work. AFEX is comprised of 14 member-organisations across the West, East, Central and Southern Africa regions and IFEX is a global network that includes these groups and another 100 member-organisations based around the globe dedicated to promoting and defending the right to freedom of expression and information.

For over 20 years, AMDISS has supported media development while promoting freedom of expression and information for an independent and democratic South Sudan. They have supported local journalists and media, particularly women journalists and others from remote areas, to participate in well-structured trainings, workshops, and seminars on safe, accurate, high-quality, effective reporting. They have engaged with governments to improve the safety of journalists, protect media freedom, support information integrity, and promote civic space. They have also brought together media, government, and civil society to discuss strategies and solutions for defending press freedom.

AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene is a journalist, activist, AFEX Steering Committee member, and IFEX Council member committed to promoting freedom of expression, including improving media standards and access to information in South Sudan’s national laws and advocating for gender equality of women journalists. She recently won an award for her influential work in advancing media development, freedom of expression, the rights of journalists and empowerment of women and girls in South Sudan.

We express concern that these attacks, including those targeting AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene, reflect a broader pattern that normalises the online targeting of journalists, activists and civil society and perpetuates the culture of impunity for violence against them.

The global creep of authoritarianism, increase in disinformation, and escalating online harassment and attacks, particularly gender-based digital violence, present ever-evolving threats to civic space and the work of journalists and media. Media-supporting organisations like AMDISS are vital advocates for the press by holding governments accountable to their commitments to freedom of expression, as well as supporting local journalists and media to learn and adapt to these challenging circumstances. In turn, it is critical governments ensure a free and open civic space for the media to exercise their rights to freedom of expression while upholding information integrity, which contributes to a healthy, thriving democracy.

AFEX condemns detention of two Ethiopian Journalists

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AFEX condemns detention of two Ethiopian Journalists

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is alarmed by the detention of two journalists working with Sheger FM 102 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, following their coverage of grievances raised by health professionals.

On September 3, 2025, Federal Police arrested and detained Mintamir Tsegaye, a reporter, and Tigist Zerihun, an editor, shortly after the station aired a program highlighting demands by health workers for better salaries and benefits. A third staff member, Eshete Assefa, Head of News and Programs, was also detained but released the same day after providing a statement.

The journalists remain in custody at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Office in the Mexico area of Addis Ababa. Their first scheduled court appearance was postponed, with proceedings on September 5, 2025.

This detention adds to a disturbing trend of press freedom violations in Ethiopia. In recent weeks, other journalists, including Yonas Amare of The Reporter and Abdulselam Mohammed of Ahadu Radio, were arbitrarily detained and held for over ten days. Ethiopia ranks 145th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, reflecting an increasingly hostile environment for journalists.

The Ethiopian Media Professionals Association (EMPA) condemned the detentions as “a dangerous practice” that undermines media independence.

AFEX strongly condemns the detention of the Sheger FM journalists and calls on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release them. Journalism is not a crime, and such actions only worsen Ethiopia’s already troubling press freedom record.

AFEX Condemns the Detention of Member

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AFEX Condemns the Detention of Member

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Congolese journalist Tuver Tuverekwevyo Wundi.

Wundi, who serves as the provincial director of the state broadcaster RTNC and a correspondent for AFEX member, Journaliste en Danger (JED), has been detained by the National Intelligence Agency in Kinshasa since August 27, 2025. He was last seen leaving the JED office for lunch, but never returned. Since then, his phones have gone unanswered, and he has been denied access to his family, colleagues, and lawyers. While a source at the National Intelligence Agency has suggested that Wundi is being “debriefed,” no official explanation or charges have been made public.

This is not the first time Wundi has been targeted. Earlier this year, he was detained for more than a week by the M23 rebel movement in Goma. His current arrest by state intelligence services once again exposes the fragile and dangerous conditions under which journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are forced to work. Such actions contribute to a worrying pattern of intimidation and harassment of the media, which undermines press freedom and denies citizens their right to information.

AFEX therefore calls on the Congolese authorities to:

  1. Immediately and unconditionally release Tuver Wundi, or provide a clear and lawful justification for his detention.
  2. Ensure the safety and protection of all journalists and media workers in the DRC, particularly those operating in conflict zones.
  3. End the practice of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of media practitioners, which erodes democratic accountability and weakens public trust.

We urge the Congolese government to respect its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which guarantee freedom of expression and the right to liberty and security of the person.

AFEX stands in solidarity with JED one of its member organisations together with Wundi’s colleagues at RTNC and the wider Congolese media community. We reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom and protecting the safety of journalists across Africa.

MRA calls on Nigerian government to implement ECOWAS Court judgment on blasphemy laws

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MRA calls on Nigerian government to implement ECOWAS Court judgment on blasphemy laws

Lagos, Wednesday, July 16, 2025: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent measures to implement and give full effect to the April 9, 2025 judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which declared aspects of Kano State’s blasphemy laws a violation of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Urging the Government to promptly comply with the Court’s directive to bring all such laws in Nigeria into conformity with its international human rights obligations, MRA stressed that failure to abide by the judgment would not only undermine the rule of law and weaken the regional human rights system but also further tarnish Nigeria’s reputation as a democracy committed to the fundamental rights of its citizens.

In a unanimous judgment by three judges in a suit filed by a human rights organization, Expression Now Human Rights Initiative, the ECOWAS Court held on April 9 that the blasphemy provisions in the Kano State Penal Code, its Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, and similar provisions in other laws violate key human rights guarantees, particularly the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by the African Charter and the ICCPR.

The Court further ruled that Nigeria, as a State Party to the African Charter and the ICCPR, is bound to ensure that its domestic laws, including state-level legislation, comply with these international instruments. It accordingly ordered the Federal Government to ensure the repeal or amendment of blasphemy provisions in the Kano State Penal Code, its Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, and similar provisions in other laws as they are incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations to guarantee freedom of expression under the regional and international instruments.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Mr. Monday Arunsi, Acting Head of MRA’s Legal Department, said the organization agreed fully with the Court’s reasoning when it stated that “capital punishment is typically reserved for serious crimes like murder, terrorism or genocide where there is a clear victim who has suffered grave harm, not speech or disrespect. The Court is of the opinion that there are less restrictive ways in which the State could limit the freedom of expression for the purpose of ensuring respect for the religious beliefs of others and the preservation of public peace.”

According to Mr. Arunsi, “Nigeria cannot pick and choose which of its international obligations to respect. The judgment of the ECOWAS Court is binding, and the Federal Government has a legal and moral duty to comply with it and ensure that the provisions of all federal and state laws are consistent with the regional and international instruments to which it is a State Party and, in particular, that the laws protect the rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter and the ICCPR, which Nigeria has voluntarily ratified. Compliance is, therefore, not optional.”

He noted that the Court’s decision reinforces longstanding concerns by human rights advocates in Nigeria and internationally that certain provisions of the Sharia Penal Code of Kano State and similar laws in many other States, particularly those criminalising blasphemy and prescribing harsh punishments such as the death penalty, are inconsistent with international human rights standards.

Mr. Arunsi called on the Federal Government to “demonstrate leadership in the region by taking immediate steps to engage with the Government of Kano State and other states with similar laws to ensure a comprehensive review and reform of such legislation, in line with Nigeria’s international obligations and in compliance with the orders of the Court.”

He stressed that such reforms should include the amendment or repeal of all provisions that violate the right to freedom of expression, while preserving freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, adding that “Respect for the rule of law and for the decisions of competent international courts is fundamental to the protection of human rights, the promotion of justice, and the preservation of Nigeria’s standing in the international community.”

Mr. Arunsi also urged the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant institutions to play their part in ensuring that the Nigeria’s legal framework fully aligns with its commitments under regional and international human rights treaties.

For more information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)
Communications Officer,
Media Rights Agenda
E-mail: [email protected]

MFWA condemns physical attacks against journalists covering parliamentary election

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MFWA condemns physical attacks against journalists covering parliamentary election

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns physical attacks against journalists reporting on the parliamentary election re-run taking place at Ablekuma North, a constituency in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana today, July 11, 2025.

Three journalists, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network; Salomey Martey of the Multimedia Group; and Vida Wiafe of Amansan TV (ATV) were assaulted while they were reporting from polling stations in the constituency.

In the first incident, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, was slapped by a police officer while at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor 4 Polling Station in the Tswuim Electoral Area. The attack, captured in a viral video, shows the officer manhandling the journalist who was visibly identifiable as a member of the press.

Banahene confirmed the incident to the MFWA in a telephone interview after lodging a complaint and obtaining a medical report at the Odorkor Police Station. He was admitted at the Cocoa Clinic at Kaneshie in Accra for treatment. He told the MFWA that he was traumatised and was feeling severe pains in his, “right eye and bruises on my face.”

We commend the Ghana Police Service, who in a statement has announced that the officer concerned has been recalled and will be facing internal disciplinary procedures.

“The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North; and in line with internal disciplinary procedures, he has been interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation,” the police statement read.

In another incident, a journalist from Multimedia Group was also manhandled by a partially masked manwhose identity could not be ascertained.

In the third incident, a journalist with ATV, Vida Wiafe, was attacked with pepper spray while covering the elections at the Methodist Church at the St. Peter’s Society polling station.

Speaking to the MFWA, she said the media were trying to get an interview but were being blocked by police. “Then I suddenly heard what sounded like shots. I don’t think they were gunshots, but honestly, I wasn’t sure,” she said. “I turned my head to see where the sound was coming from, and that’s when I was pepper sprayed. I went unconscious the moment I was pepper sprayed.”

These attacks are a clear affront to press freedom and highly unbefitting of a country that is touted as a beacon of democracy in the West Africa region.

It is particularly worrying that such incidents are happening in the Ablekuma area again, given that Pius Kwanin Asiedu of the online news portal newswatchgh.com was shot in the left leg while covering the collation of election results at the Ablekuma Central collation centre during the 2020 general elections.

Government authorities, both local and national, need to take appropriate steps to ensure that the constituency does not become a hotspot for election-related violence and attacks against journalists.

The state security agencies and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) must also deploy circumspection and tact in the management of elections in the said area to avert future recurrence of violence against journalists, which not only dents the democratic credentials of the country, but also violates the country’s press freedom as guaranteed in the 1992 Constitution.

As the elections are ongoing, the MFWA calls on both state and non-state actors involved in the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law, and respect the rights of all stakeholders, especially the media, who are fundamentally carrying out their duties to inform Ghanaians and the rest of the world about the entire process.

The MFWA urges the EC and state security agencies managing the elections to accord journalists the necessary courtesies to facilitate and ensure a comprehensive coverage of the election.

The MFWA also calls on the Police Administration to ensure that the findings of the PPSB are made public and that the officer is held accountable if found culpable. This will serve as a deterrent to other state security agents, who our monitoring often cites as the main perpetrators of press freedom and freedom of expression violations in Ghana.

We stand in solidarity with the victims and their media outlets and call on all stakeholders to unite in protecting journalists and preserving the sanctity of press freedom in Ghana by calling out perpetrators of freedom of expression and press freedom violations

AFEX Condemns blatant violations of fundamental freedoms during protests in Kenya

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AFEX Condemns blatant violations of fundamental freedoms during protests in Kenya

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a network committed to protecting and advancing the rights of all persons to speak freely, access information, and participate in governance, strongly condemns the recent violations of fundamental freedoms during the protests held in Kenya on June 25, 2025.

AFEX is gravely alarmed by reported cases of excessive force used against protesters, which has resulted in over 16 confirmed deaths and over 400 injured protesters. It is highly unfortunate that a peaceful protest that was intended to commemorate and demand justice for lives lost exactly a year earlier should result in the recurrence of dozens of casualties.

AFEX also denounces the directive by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) barring the live coverage of the June 25, 2025 protests by the media in the country. In particular, we condemn the unlawful media blackouts enforced against Citizen TV, NTV, KTN and K24. The directive was a blatant censorship move that infringes on the public’s right to access timely and accurate information, and also to express their concerns using such platforms.

These actions are not only indefensible, but also unlawful under both Kenyan and international law. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) clearly guarantees in Article 33, the right to freedom of expression; in Article 34, the freedom and independence of electronic, print, and all other types of media; and in Article 37, the right of every person to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peacefully and unarmed.

Kenya is also a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Articles 19 and 21 of which protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The current violations are in direct contradiction to these binding international obligations.

Freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to peaceful assembly are indispensable pillars of democratic societies. Attempts to suppress these rights do not only silence dissent, but also erode public trust in state institutions and undermine the rule of law.

It is, thus, untenable, that just a day (June 26) after the commemorative protest when people were still morning the dead and attending to the over 400 injured people resulting from poor crowd management skills of the Kenyan Police and other security agencies, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, would hold a press conference only to defend the CAK’s decision to switch off free-to-air signals of the media; and to attack international reporters.

While condemning the Cabinet Secretary for Interior for his statements during the presser of June 26, AFEX highly commends the ruling of the High Court in Milimani, presided over by Justice Chacha Mwita, for issuing the conservatory order that suspended the directive from the CAK barring media outlets from broadcasting live footage of the commerative demonstrations of June 25, 2025.

“A conservatory order is HEREBY ISSUED suspending, with immediate effect, the DIRECTIVE Ref No. CA/CE/BC/TV90A, or any other directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya to all television and radio stations directing them to stop live coverage of the demonstrations of 25th June 2025, or any other demonstrations, until the hearing and determination of the application and petition,” the Court order read.

AFEX also commends Justice Chacha Mwita for not only suspending the directive, but also for ordering for the immediate restoration of any broadcasting signals that might have been switched off following the implementation of the CAK’s directive.

AFEX also applauds the Kenya Editors’ Guild and all media stakeholders and civil society organisations for standing with the protesters and the media in Kenya to pushback the CAK’s directive.

We stand in solidarity with all Kenyans exercising their democratic rights, and we urge the Kenyan authorities to safeguard these freedoms rather than suppress them. Freedom of expression is not a privilege, it is a right. AFEX, therefore, calls on the Government of Kenya to:

  1. Cease the repression of peaceful protests and guarantee the protection of all demonstrators and journalists;
  2. Ensure an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into all acts of violence, particularly against protesters and journalists, and hold the perpetrators accountable;
  3. Uphold and enforce constitutional and international obligations protecting freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right to peaceful assembly.
  4. Provide crowd control skills training sessions for the Kenyan Police Force. Indeed, the fallouts of the June 2024 and June 2025 protests is a clear demonstration of the Kenyan Police Forces’ dearth of skill in crowd management; as well as their limited appreciation of the role of expression, including protests, in democratic dispensations.
  5. Desist from deploying the military to manage peaceful protests as their interventions have often been marked by abuses

AFEX condemns the unjust and excessive restriction of access to X in Tanzania

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AFEX condemns the unjust and excessive restriction of access to X in Tanzania

From May 20 to May 21, 2025, Tanzanians faced a wave of digital restrictions impacting their X accounts. This shutdown occurred without any official announcement from the government or telecommunications companies in Tanzania.

The X platform was disabled without proper procedure, a public explanation, or legal justification. The restrictions followed a security breach, where hackers took over the official X account of the Tanzanian Police Force and posted explicit content, along with false claims regarding the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan on May 20, 2025.

Other X accounts impacted included those of the Tanzanian Police Force, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Airtel Tanzania, and the YouTube channels of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the University of Dar es Salaam, as reported by The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG).

In response to the incident, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated on May 19 that she would not permit foreign activists to meddle in Tanzania’s internal matters or incite unrest.

The government believes this situation arose amid increasing political tension, following the arrest and deportation of several East African activists and lawyers who sought to observe opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial in Tanzania.

This led to the deportation of notable Kenyan figures, including former Justice Minister Martha Kaura, who had come to attend a court hearing for Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges.

The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group emphasized in its statement that this shutdown, executed without public notice, infringes on essential digital rights and freedoms. They further reminded the public that access to information is a fundamental human right recognized in international and regional legal obligations.

AFEX calls on the government of Tanzania to restore complete access to citizens’ X accounts and to enhance cybersecurity measures nationwide.

Additionally, AFEX urges the government and telecommunications companies to establish clear guidelines that ensure any future restrictions on internet services comply with constitutional due process and international norms and standards. These restrictions should be limited in scope and publicly justified.

Zambian government secretly weaponizes cybercrime law with intrusive add-ons

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Zambian government secretly weaponizes cybercrime law with intrusive add-ons

On April 8, 2025, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema signed into law the Cyber Crimes Act 2025,updating the 2021 version with rather very intrusive provisions.

The new law has also removed the Zambia Cyber Security Agency from an independent agency of state, and localized it in the Office of the President.

The law allows for the interception and surveillance of all electronic communications, including calls, emails, messages and streamed content. Under the law a law enforcement officer with a warrant can enter any premises to search and seize a computer or computer system containing material that is either evidence necessary to prove an offence or acquired by a person as a result of an offence.

The law also allows the government to extradite Zambians who are deemed to have committed any offence under the law, with hefty fines or jail terms ranging from five (5) to fifteen (15) years, depending on the crime committed.

The new law requires Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies to proactively intercept all electronic communications for government, effectively turning Zambia into a Police state with telcos as the informants.

According to sources, the Act was signed into law with very little publicity.  Many Zambians thus, only got to know about it after the US issued an advisory to its citizens traveling, or considering traveling to Zambia.

Parts of that advisory read, “As this new law introduces an intrusive surveillance ecosystem significantly different from privacy protection provisions that prevail in many countries, the embassy of the United States encourages Americans living in Zambia or considering visiting the country to carefully assess the implications of this law and adjust accordingly.”

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ)  has raised concerns that numerous provisions in the Act, “infringe upon the rights and freedoms of citizens, hinder a free press and have the potential to undermine the cherished democracy in our country”.

AFEX equally believe the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 is unwholesome and is replete with provisions that infringe on human rights.  In addition, the Act is dangerous to free expression, as well as independent journalism, which are among the most effective ways to hold the government and duty bearers to account. We condemn the secrecy and obscurantism that characterized its passage and urge the government to revoke the law for wider consultations before passage.

AFEX urges the Kenyan government to help bring justice to assaulted journalists in Nakuru

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AFEX urges the Kenyan government to help bring justice to assaulted journalists in Nakuru

Over a week has passed since six journalists were teargassed and assaulted by police in Nakuru, Kenya, while covering the arrest of former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala on April 8. Despite public outcry and assurances of an investigation, no officers have been held accountable.

The incident occurred at Kirobon Girls’ High School, where more than 15 journalists were present for live broadcasts. A plain-clothed officer instructed them to leave, threatened them, and later returned with riot police, resulting in chaos. Tear gas was directed at the journalists while they tried to flee, leading to injuries among several of them.

National Police Service spokesperson Nyaga Muchiri has indicated that action would be taken against those involved. However, many journalists hesitated to file statements with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) due to previous frustrations.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about police impunity and the safety of journalists in Kenya, particularly in politically sensitive situations, despite constitutional protections for press freedom.

The African Freedom of Expression (AFEX) is concerned about the safety of Journalists, especially when no action has been taken against the perpetrators. AFEX urges the State authorities to ensure that justice is served in this matter.

IPC decries threats against journalist; condemns invasion of radio station

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IPC decries threats against journalist; condemns invasion of radio station

For immediate release, February 3, 2025 The Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) hub of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos – Nigeria is greatly concerned about reported threats on the life of Ibadan-based journalist Mr. Tayo Oyeladun of Lagelu FM.

According to report reaching the Safety Alert Desk of IPC, Oyeladun made the claim via a save my soul message posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, 30th January, 2023. He noted that the threat was related to a programme he anchored, tagged “Bosenlo” after which the CPS to Soun Ogbomoso reached out to one of his senior colleagues to express his grievances about the comments of one of the guests.

Since then, he began to receive strange threat calls. “The past few days have been hard for me and my family. I am facing death threats for doing my job as a broadcast journalist. I believe in balance opinion and free speech in a democratic setting. I’m living in a society where the system favours the elite and those in position of authority,” he alleged. “I have become a soft target in elite chess games and their pursuit of self-aggrandizement. There is pressure from high places to get me sacked of my job! If I lose my job or life, will they take care of my children and family? My offense? being a child of nobody. Friend and family please keep praying for my safety,” he further stated.

IPC-SPJ is deeply worried about the situation of Journalist Tayo Oyeladun and hereby calls on the Nigerian government and the security agencies, especially the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State to ensure that he is not harmed in any way. IPC-SPJ enjoins anyone who may be aggrieved over the comments made during the programme anchored by the journalist or his guest to seek redress through legal channels instead of attempting to resort to extra-judicial self-help.

IPC-SPJ therefore appeals to other media freedom groups, freedom of expression organisations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for his safety. IPC-SPJ is also condemning the forceful invasion and closure of Joy FM 96.5, Otukpo, by the Benue State government. “A team of heavily armed policemen stormed the radio station in two trucks, allegedly led by the Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) and an official of the State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone.

Staff members were reportedly assaulted, and a journalist reading the 1pm network news bulletin was forced at gunpoint to halt the broadcast,” the report stated. IPC-SPJ states that, this incident is an abuse of power and an attack on press freedom and democracy. We are calling for an immediate investigation of this incident, especially the officials involved. The appropriate punishment should be meted on those found guilty.

SGD: Melody Akinjiyan

Press Freedom Officer, IPC

[email protected]

Amplifying the Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa: Towards Meaningful Actions by States

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Amplifying the Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa: Towards Meaningful Actions by States

Two and a half years after the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted the Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa, its implementation remains a pipe dream. With Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) continuing to proliferate across the continent, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is challenging African governments to use the occasion of International Women’s Day to commit to taking legislative and practical measures to implement this pivotal resolution.

ACHPR/Res. 522 (LXXII) 2022 is important as it offers ground breaking approaches to addressing digital violence against women on the African continent.  While the digital realm should be a space of innovation and empowerment, it has become a battleground where women face harassment, intimidation, and violence. The non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sexist hate speech, misogynistic disinformation campaigns, cyberstalking, cyber bullying, cyber flashing, unsolicited sexually explicit content, doxing, deep fakes, trolling and mansplaining have steadily increased and contributed to a growing digital gender divide in Africa.

This digital gender divide further exacerbates existing inequalities and hinders progress towards achieving gender equality in the region, stripping girls and women of their voices and hindering meaningful participation in online discourse. The inequalities also hinder the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 5 that, among others, aims to advance gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a prerequisite for development.

Given the snail-speed implementation of the 2022 Resolution, in 2024  the Commission adopted another resolution, ACHPR/Res.591 (LXXX) 2024, which mandates the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa to undertake a study on the causes, manifestations, and impacts of digital violence against women in Africa. It also aims to further the development of comprehensive norms and standards to assist countries ​in ​address​ing TFGBV.

This Resolution underscores the need to fulfill Article 9 of the African Charter on free expression and access to information, and Article 4 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa on the rights to life, integrity and security of the person of the woman.

According to CIPESA’s Programme Manager, Ashnah Kalemera, governments are not to be reminded of their obligations with regards to gender equity online but should take all the necessary measures and “accelerate actions including adopting appropriate laws to address TFGBV.”

While TFGBV has become a major global challenge, many approaches adopted to tackle it on the continent either fall short of the capability to hold those responsible for rights violations accountable, or focus on curtailing the digital civic spaces. For example, electoral periods such as in Uganda have  witnessed  multiple reports of targeted online violence against women, with some existing laws on cybercrime often targeting the female victims and not the perpetrators of gender-based violence online.

In a recent report on Kenya, almost 90% of young adults enrolled in tertiary institutions in the country’s capital Nairobi have reportedly suffered gender-based violence in online spaces, with 39% having experienced the harms personally. These harms, according to the study, are more pronounced amongst females (64.4%) in comparison to males (35.5%). Meanwhile, sexism and sexualisation of content such as in Zimbabwe and Uganda, attacks on female journalists in Ghana, Namibia and Tanzania, the harassment of female journalists in South Africa and against women in politics  in Kenya continually undermined their political and public affairs.

Guided by this year’s theme, Accelerate Actions to commemorate International Women’s Day, CIPESA calls on African governments to undertake the following actions to implement Resolution ACHPR/Res. 522 (LXXII) 2022.

Adopt Gender-Sensitive Legal and Policy Frameworks

Adoption of gender-sensitive legal and policy frameworks is critical to provide the legal basis for addressing TFGBV. States, technology companies including social media platforms, media and news organisations, and other stakeholders should recognise online violence from a gender lens, enact laws and policies that employ gender-balanced language, criminalise all forms of online violence and prioritise the digital safety of women and girls.

Evidence-Based Research for Gendered Actions

Evidence-based research is crucial for innovation and development of effective gendered actions to inform targeted interventions, policies, and programs that aim to combat online violence. Data that establishes the nature, prevalence, extent and the risk factors of TFGBV and the impact it poses should be collected and analysed by states alongside other stakeholders like CSOs. Such studies can be the foundational basis for identifying and addressing the root causes of the violence for more effective gendered actions against the vice.

Capacity Building and Awareness Raising

In line with the resolution, there is a need for capacity building and awareness raising in addressing TFGBV. Capacity building and awareness raising through various fora such as the media has the capacity to empower governments, individuals, communities, and institutions to understand, prevent, and respond to violence against women. Programmes such as digital literacy, advocacy interventions, community and network-led education, and capacitating law enforcement officers, the judiciary and other institutions will contribute to the wider goal of addressing online violence targeting women. Specific efforts in privacy awareness, online safety and digital hygiene will contribute to the creation of safer spaces for women who are disproportionately targeted by online violence.

Cooperation with Stakeholders including CSOs and Service Providers

The Resolution calls for cooperation of states with stakeholders including CSOs and service providers to end TFGBV. Collaboration amongst these players can help to combat TFGBV. CSOs can continually play the watchdog role of outreach and monitoring state efforts and activities. Service providers should engage in promoting responsibility over content and enhance accountability over the use of the online spaces and platforms. Similarly, there should be joint efforts to end violence against women such as through information sharing, capacity building, conducting joint campaigns and employing policy advocacy and tech solutions such as use of technology tools to track and investigate suspected cases of violence against women.

Protection and Support for Victims

The effects of violence in any form can be devastating. The devastating effects call for mitigation of the harm caused and empowering of survivors to heal and seek justice. States need to adopt comprehensive approaches which facilitate mitigation of harms including taking appropriate action for immediate support and providing safe spaces for survivors, safety planning and documentation of evidence. Similarly, clear mechanisms for reporting and redress including law enforcement and legal assistance for survivors can go a long way in victim support. Psychological and emotional support and providing self-care resources are also key. Additionally, digital security and privacy support, community support and advocacy such as awareness raising, provision of specialised services such as trauma-informed care and culturally sensitive services, and education including digital literacy programmes and public awareness aimed at enhancing preventive measures are important strategies for combating TFGBV.

Buttressing Prevention Measures

The ACHPR/Res. 522 (LXXII) 2022 enlists a number of actions which African Union Member States should undertake. If undertaken, these actions could check on tech-enabled violence against women. They could also be the basis upon which equality in the enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms in the online space can be achieved. By strengthening prevention measures, a society that is pro-rights and freedoms that ensures a safe and inclusive space for empowering women and girls will be attained. Thus, individuals, groups, and communities through buttressed approaches will be equipped with knowledge, tools and skills to prevent, respond to and combat online violence.

Conclusively, the ACHPR/Res. 522 (LXXII) 2022 is a step forward in the fight against gender discrimination and women targeted violence in the online spaces. It sets a powerful benchmark for dealing with and addressing TFGBV. Its multi-faceted approach of bringing various stakeholders including governments, civil society, and the private sector together and, dealing with the issues in a comprehensive manner especially by states, provides a progressive roadmap for creating a safer and more inclusive online environment for women across Africa.

AMDISS Welcomes Lifting of the Ban on Facebook and TikTok in South Sudan

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AMDISS Welcomes Lifting of the Ban on Facebook and TikTok in South Sudan

Juba, 28 January 2025—The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) welcomes the lifting of the blockage of Facebook and TikTok and calls on the government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect press freedom and the right of access to information to serve the public good.

While containing the rapid spread of inflammatory content on social media is significant, AMDISS appeals to the National Communication Authority to expedite the process of lifting the ban and allow the social media companies to moderate their platforms and enforce measures to avert the spread of inflammatory content and misinformation to reduce harm.

The recent Facebook and TikTok blackout not only restrained this fundamental right but also hindered the media from gathering and sharing information and limited the public from expressing their opinions and engaging in public discourse. It is worth noting that social media has become a vital tool for communication, especially in South Sudan, where there is limited access to mainstream media.

This shutdown silences voices and represses democratic participation at a time when open conversation is highly indispensable to tackling the core challenges facing South Sudan. It is our conviction that Facebook and TikTok will help the mainstream media monitor voter registration exercises, stimulate effective civic education, and enable massive mobilization of voters to exercise their democratic rights during the 2026 polls. For future occurrences, AMDISS appeals to the government to collaborate with Meta and TikTok to blur out graphic content and give the users a choice to make and take responsibility for their actions.

AMDISS is an independent member-based media training and advocacy organization in South Sudan formed in 2003 to work towards creating an enabling environment for media freedom through advocacy and dialogue with stakeholders.

For more information on this press release, contact us at [email protected]

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