Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

Articles by Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

A police officer disperses residents in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya, as they protest restrictions on their movements due to Covid-19, 11 May 2020, Billy Mutai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Digital rights in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya throttled by COVID-19 regulations

COVID-19 related legislation, surveillance practices and implementation of regulations have led to an erosion of online and offline civil liberties in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

COVID-19 regulations used to curb online rights

In the run up to elections, Ugandan authorities are honing in on regulations meant to curb COVID-19 and using them to restrict online digital rights.

ISP offers accessible apps for people with disabilities

South African Internet Service Provider Vodacom leads the way in providing digital products and services that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Mozambican authorities asked to uphold media freedom prior to UPR process

Prior to its Universal Peer Review process in 2021, civil society organisations are calling on Mozambican authorities to enhance media freedom, digital rights and freedom of expression.

Mauritius’s newly introduced tax on online services threatens freedom of expression

Mauritius’s thriving ICT sector is set to decline as a newly introduced tax on online services has the potential to curb growth along with freedom of expression.

African CSOs call for urgent reforms to EU aid

African civil society organisations have written to the European Union to ensure allocation of funding to African governments is not applied to facilitate the use of surveillance which violates the fundamental rights of citizens.

Diverse array of technologies used to curb COVID-19

Various actors in Africa’s fight against COVID-19 are creatively harnessing the power of technology to share information and create platforms that stakeholders can engage on.

Tanzania tramples digital rights in fight against COVID-19

Tanzania’s handling of COVID-19 and the implementation of laws and restrictions related to the pandemic is throttling freedom of expression in the country.