- The Paradigm Initiative's 'LONDA 2025' report evaluates the digital rights landscape across 29 African countries, revealing a divide between legislative progress and increasing authoritarian repression.
- Governments are increasingly using internet shutdowns, state surveillance, and the weaponization of cybercrime laws to suppress dissent and control online spaces.
- While some nations have advanced data protection laws, others continue to face challenges with the opaque management of Universal Service Funds and systemic digital exclusion.
Regional Performance
- Southern Africa: Botswana improved significantly (score 28 to 35) due to the implementation of data protection and access to information acts. Conversely, Zambia faced backlash after the abrupt cancellation of the global 'RightsCon' event, raising concerns about its future democratic trajectory.
- West Africa: Senegal saw improvements (34 to 38) following a landmark ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling against internet blackouts. Togo experienced a decline (29 to 28) due to platform disruptions during protests, while Nigeria struggled with increased telecommunications costs.
- North & East Africa: Egypt improved (32 to 38) through AI and open data policies despite persistent surveillance concerns. Sudan suffered a severe drop (21 to 20) due to war-related connectivity loss, while Tanzania and Kenya saw internet throttling during critical political events.
Persistent Challenges
- Network Disruptions: Governments frequently use internet shutdowns, such as the blackout in Cameroon during election results, to control the information environment.
- Legal Weaponization: Penal codes and cybercrime laws are frequently applied against journalists and activists in countries like Benin, Somalia, and Ghana to induce self-censorship.
- Gender-Based Violence: Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and disinformation campaigns are increasingly used to suppress women's political participation.
Ongoing Advocacy and Future Outlook
- Regulatory Progress: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has issued resolutions 580 and 630 to combat shutdowns and promote information integrity.
- Child Safety and AI: Nations like Kenya, Lesotho, and Tunisia are establishing frameworks for child online protection, while others are beginning to develop national AI strategies.
- Awareness: Paradigm Initiative produced the film 'Signal,' which dramatizes the findings of previous reports to highlight the human cost of digital exclusion for marginalized, rural populations.