Organization: Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
Observer Status Number: 538

Honourable Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), Commissioners of the African Commission.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is concerned about the incidence of internet shutdowns in Africa. In 2025, the internet was shut down in 15 African countries – Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. 

Tanzania shut down the internet on 29 October against numerous calls by the Commission to refrain from doing so during the election. The action violated freedom of expression and access to information and the monitoring of elections, as presented in the preliminary statement of the African Union Election Observer Mission, affecting the integrity of the election. 

Uganda similarly shut down the internet against the African Commission’s calls to refrain following directive ECO/436 of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) dated 13 January 2026, directing internet shutdowns. 

On 18 February 2026, Gabon recently blocked social media access to platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, which occasioned economic losses for Gabon. The economic costs of internet shutdowns violate the right to development for individuals relying on the internet. For Gabon, for instance, a 60-day social media blocking of access on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has caused a potential loss of US$66,612,789 calculated using the Netblocks Cost of Shutdown Tool. 

Internet shutdowns violate a series of human rights, including articles 9 and 25 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee freedom of expression and access to information, and a general satisfactory environment favourable to development. 

We also note that Mozambique recently passed Decree No. 48/2025, which directly violates Article 48 of its Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the right to information. Decree 48/2025 grants Mozambique excessively broad powers to impose internet shutdowns and follows Mozambique’s repeated internet shutdowns during the 2024 election season.

We urge the African Commission to call on the following;

• The government of Mozambique should repeal Decree 48/2025, which enables overbroad breaches of freedom of expression and access to information, and refrain from internet shutdowns.
• African governments should take heed of the African Commission’s statements on refraining from internet shutdowns and of Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa.
• Respect the need to foster an enabling environment for development by keeping the internet open and accessible to all. 

For any further comments, the PIN can be reached via email at partners@paradigmhq.org.