Civil Society in the Digital Age in Africa: Identifying Threats and Mounting Pushbacks
Pretoria; Kampala: Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria;CIPESA (2020), 78 pp.
ISBN 978-1-920538-84-2
"The report documents the threats to civil society in the digital age by examining the legislative and regulatory framework in four countries in Africa: Egypt, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia. These countries were selected from the four main geographic regions of Africa, in order to provide a sense of the state of civic engagement in the digital age across the continent. The case studies are clearly not representative of what is happening on the continent, but are illustrative of some prominent trends. The recommendations emanating from the research call for the states to revise and repeal identified restrictive laws and align them with international standards. Civil society organisations and human rights activists are also encouraged to enhance their individual and organizational digital knowledge and expertise to more robust counter disruptive state measures. This expertise should be enhanced through a human rights lens and should extend to other stakeholders including judicial officers, legislators, law enforcement and the general public through sustained multi-stakeholder engagement." (Executive summary, pages 7-8)
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO STUDY, 9
1.1 Introduction and background, 9
1.2 International law framework on civil society in Africa, 12
1.2.1 The United Nations framework, 12
1.2.2 The African Union human rights framework, 18
SECTION 2: CASE STUDY – EGYPT 25
2.1 Country background, 25
2.2 National legislative framework, 27
2.3 Digital threats to civil society, 33
2.3.1 Access to internet and network disruptions, 33
2.3.2 Infringements on freedom of expression online and online violence, 35
2.3.3 State surveillance, 38
2.4 Egypt summary table, 39
2.5 An analysis of the country context in Egypt, 40
2.6 Recommendations for Egypt, 41
SECTION 3: CASE STUDY – SIERRA LEONE, 43
3.1 Country background, 43
3.2 National legislative framework, 44
3.3 Human rights and the civic space online in Sierra Leone, 47
3.4 Sierra Leone summary table, 47
3.5 An analysis of the country context in Sierra Leone, 48
3.6 Recommendations for Sierra Leone, 50
SECTION 4: CASE STUDY – UGANDA, 53
4.1 Country background, 53
4.2 National legislative framework, 54
4.3 Digital threats to civil society in Uganda, 62
4.4 Uganda summary table, 64
4.5 Recommendations for Uganda, 64
SECTION 4: CASE STUDY – ZAMBIA, 67
4.1 Country background, 67
4.2 National legislative framework, 68
4.3 Human rights and the civic space online in Zambia, 70
4.4 Zambia summary table, 71
4.5 An analysis of the country context in Zambia, 71
4.6 Recommendations for Zambia, 73
SECTION 5: OVERALL CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, 75
1.1 Introduction and background, 9
1.2 International law framework on civil society in Africa, 12
1.2.1 The United Nations framework, 12
1.2.2 The African Union human rights framework, 18
SECTION 2: CASE STUDY – EGYPT 25
2.1 Country background, 25
2.2 National legislative framework, 27
2.3 Digital threats to civil society, 33
2.3.1 Access to internet and network disruptions, 33
2.3.2 Infringements on freedom of expression online and online violence, 35
2.3.3 State surveillance, 38
2.4 Egypt summary table, 39
2.5 An analysis of the country context in Egypt, 40
2.6 Recommendations for Egypt, 41
SECTION 3: CASE STUDY – SIERRA LEONE, 43
3.1 Country background, 43
3.2 National legislative framework, 44
3.3 Human rights and the civic space online in Sierra Leone, 47
3.4 Sierra Leone summary table, 47
3.5 An analysis of the country context in Sierra Leone, 48
3.6 Recommendations for Sierra Leone, 50
SECTION 4: CASE STUDY – UGANDA, 53
4.1 Country background, 53
4.2 National legislative framework, 54
4.3 Digital threats to civil society in Uganda, 62
4.4 Uganda summary table, 64
4.5 Recommendations for Uganda, 64
SECTION 4: CASE STUDY – ZAMBIA, 67
4.1 Country background, 67
4.2 National legislative framework, 68
4.3 Human rights and the civic space online in Zambia, 70
4.4 Zambia summary table, 71
4.5 An analysis of the country context in Zambia, 71
4.6 Recommendations for Zambia, 73
SECTION 5: OVERALL CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, 75
