The African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA) has submitted alternative reports to the UN Human Rights Committee on Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso’s compliance with the ICCPR, focusing on digital rights, online freedoms, and civic participation.
On March 3, 2025, we also delivered a formal statement at the NGO briefing of the CCPR 143rd session in Geneva, raising urgent concerns about internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, media censorship, and repression of online activism in both countries.
Key Issues in Our Submission
Zimbabwe
- Internet disruptions during elections – Internet throttling and social media blackouts during the 2023 general elections prevented independent election monitoring and stifled dissent.
- Criminalization of online speech – The Patriotic Act (2023) has been used to prosecute journalists and activists for expressing dissent online.
- State surveillance – The Cyber and Data Protection Act (2021) enables unchecked government access to personal data, violating privacy rights.
Burkina Faso
- Crackdown on press freedom – Independent media outlets, including BBC and VOA, were suspended in 2024 for reporting on security issues.
- Targeting of journalists – Investigative journalist Atiana Serge Oulon was abducted in June 2024, highlighting the risks faced by independent reporters.
- Censorship of online spaces – Authorities have blocked websites and arrested online activists, further shrinking civic space.
Our Statement at the UN Human Rights Committee
At the NGO formal briefing, AIRA urged the Human Rights Committee to take decisive action to address these violations, emphasizing that:
- Internet shutdowns and censorship must end to uphold free expression and electoral integrity.
- Surveillance laws must be reformed to protect citizens’ privacy.
- The persecution of journalists and activists must stop, ensuring free and open media spaces.
We concluded with a clear message:
Democratic processes in this digital age cannot be truly free, fair, or inclusive without the protection of digital rights.
What’s Next?
- We will continue engaging with the UN and international partners to push for stronger protections for digital rights in Africa.
- We call on governments, civil society, and tech platforms to uphold the principles of internet freedom, media independence, and privacy rights.
Read our full submissions on Burkina Faso here: _The African Internet Rights Alliance _ Alternative Report for Burkina Faso
Read our full submissions on Zimbabwe here: The African Internet Rights Alliance _ Alternative Report for Zimbabwe (1)
Watch our Statement to the Committee:
