Access Now at the 11th edition of CIPESA’s FIFAfrica

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), in partnership with Dakar-based AfricTivistes, will host the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2024 (FIFAfrica24) set to take place on September 25-27, 2024 in Senegal.

Over the past decade, the FIFAfrica conference has provided a space and garnered a track record of bringing together multi-stakeholder actors and shared efforts aimed at advancing rights, freedoms, participation, and innovation in the digital sphere. 

Hosting the 11th edition of FIFAfrica in Senegal provides an avenue for civil society actors to engage with the current Senegalese government as well as other relevant actors in improving the human rights landscape in the country while exploring ways to advance digital rights in the country. 

Senegal saw a deterioration of human rights in the last couple of years with increased reports of attacks on press freedom, a crackdown on opposition voices, both online and off, and the arbitrary arrest and detention of protesters in the lead up to the country’s elections. In 2023, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition recorded four incidents of shutdowns in a government attempt to muzzle free speech, control the flow of information, and crack down on anti-government protests in the country. 

Access Now is a key partner of CIPESA and continues to actively participate in FIFAfrica to strengthen our partnership and expand our network within Africa and beyond. In view of this, we are happy to be hosting and participating in this year’s FIFAfrica.  

Below are some of the events Access Now staff will be hosting or participating in at FIFAfrica24. 

For those who cannot join in person, you can follow the hashtag #FIFAfrica24 on social media for details about how to engage virtually.

Check out the official website for more information about the event.