World

Africa’s governments already treat the internet as protest infrastructure. Its courts have not caught up

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 07/10/2026, 18:15:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 report by Global Voices highlights that African governments frequently treat the internet as protest infrastructure, using network cuts to suppress assemblies rather than prosecuting individuals. The article notes that over 70 instances of network shutdowns occurred across 32 countries since 2014, with specific examples including Algeria's exam closures and Kenya's Telegram blocking during national exams. The report argues that while Article 9 of the African Charter protects speech, Article 11 protects assembly, and international law requires states to facilitate assembly, the current legal framework fails to adequately protect online assemblies. The source material is part of a September 2026 Spotlight series on protest in democracy.

Key points

• Since 2014, over 70 separate network shutdowns have occurred across 32 African countries, with specific instances including Algeria's exam closures and Kenya's Telegram blocking during national exams.
• The report distinguishes between states prosecuting named individuals for online speech versus shutting down networks to prevent coordinated assemblies, noting that the latter approach is more prevalent in suppressing dissent.

Context and limitations

Coverage is limited to network shutdowns and individual prosecutions since 2014; data excludes individual broadcaster closures and does not account for pre-2014 events or events where no government action occurred.

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