Digital Rights and Governance Take Center Stage at FIFAfrica26

• Over 500 stakeholders gathered in Mauritius for the 13th Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica26) to discuss digital governance and inclusion.
• Key focus areas included artificial intelligence (AI) accountability, digital infrastructure sovereignty, and addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

Advancing Digital Sovereignty

• Attendees emphasized that African nations must move beyond merely participating in platforms they do not own, calling for homegrown AI models and technological innovation tailored to the continent's needs.
• CIPESA Executive Director Wairagala Wakabi noted that Africa holds approximately 18% of the global population but less than 1% of the world's total computing capacity.
• Discussions centered on diversifying the sovereignty debate to include not just government regulation, but also infrastructural and inclusion-based sovereignty.

Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)

• A pre-event highlighted a critical disconnect between policy development and the implementation of interventions, particularly regarding police responses to digital violence.
• Research across 18 countries revealed that most TFGBV survivors avoid formal reporting channels, such as law enforcement, preferring to seek support from immediate family and friends.
• Panellists stressed that technology-based violence requires holistic, community-led support systems that extend beyond one-off digital interventions.

Strategic Advocacy

• The forum highlighted the need for African voices to be more effectively represented in international human rights and digital governance mechanisms.
• Experts called for a sustained cycle of engagement with ministries, embassies, and global frameworks like the Universal Periodic Review to ensure policy keeps pace with rapid technological shifts.