FIFAfrica26 Focuses on Digital Sovereignty and Rights in Africa
APC
- The 13th edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica26) took place in Balaclava, Mauritius, from September 28 to October 1, 2026, hosting around 500 multistakeholder participants.
- Discussions centered on data governance, artificial intelligence (AI), platform accountability, digital inclusion, and digital security.
Digital Sovereignty and Governance
- There is a growing push for Africa to design and develop home-grown technologies rather than relying on foreign platforms.
- APC associate Koliwe Majama argued for an expanded definition of sovereignty, incorporating "inclusion sovereignty" and "infrastructural sovereignty" alongside governance.
- Wairagala Wakabi, executive director of CIPESA, highlighted that despite housing 18% of the global population, Africa currently possesses less than 1% of the world's computing capacity, urging investment in AI justice and local capacity building.
Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
- Pre-event sessions addressed the gap between policy development and the implementation of interventions for TFGBV.
- Research from Pollicy (sampling over 18,000 respondents) revealed that most survivors of TFGBV avoid formal reporting channels like the police, preferring support from family and close friends.
- Panelists concluded that technology alone cannot solve TFGBV, advocating instead for stronger community-based service networks and improved training for law enforcement to ensure survivors receive adequate support.
Advocacy and Global Engagement
- A recurring theme was the underrepresentation of African voices in international digital governance and human rights processes.
- Participants promoted the Alliance for Universal Digital Rights (AUDRi) framework to help strengthen advocacy within international mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review process, emphasizing the need for continued, long-term relationships with government ministries and international ambassadors.