The Gen Z movement, which surged in 2024 and continues to influence public discourse, has placed cultural …
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Internet shutdowns and throttling have become a standard weapon in the East African government playbook for managing dissent. What started as occasional, crude measures—cutting all internet access during elections—has evolved into sophisticated, targeted digital repression that disconnects citizens from each other, from information, and from the global audience they need to amplify their voices.
Tanzania entered the election season under heavy restrictions. Major opposition figures were blocked from running. Tundu Lissu remained in prison on treason charges. Another opposition candidate from ACT-Wazalendo was disqualified. Public rallies were violently dispersed. Opposition offices were raided. Scores of activists were detained before the campaigns even heated up.
VOCAL Africa calls for an immediate review and amendment of all counter-terror provisions that can be misapplied against citizens exercising their constitutional freedoms. A democratic nation cannot criminalise dissent. Counter-terrorism must not become a cover for repression.
VOCAL Africa calls for an immediate review and amendment of all counter-terror provisions that can be misapplied against citizens exercising their constitutional freedoms. A democratic nation cannot criminalise dissent. Counter-terrorism must not become a cover for repression.
"Justice for Albert": The Blogger Who Died in Custody, and the Fire He Sparked By VOCAL Africa Newsroom | June 11, 2025 Albert Ojwang was more than a blogger. He was a husband, a father to a five-month-old baby, a teacher by profession, and a fearless digital activist who believed in the power of truth. …
Dr. Kizza Besigye, a longtime opponent of President Yoweri Museveni, was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified individuals in Kenya and secretly transported to Uganda. Days later, he resurfaced in Kampala, where he was arraigned in a Ugandan military court and charged with illegal possession of firearms and conspiring against the government—charges he vehemently denies. The Kenyan …
Since June 2024, Kenya has experienced a concerning surge in enforced disappearances, particularly targeting individuals involved in anti-government protests. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has documented 82 cases of abductions or enforced disappearances between June and December 2024, with 30 individuals still unaccounted for.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by escalating armed conflicts, mass displacement, and widespread human rights violations. The resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, has intensified the turmoil, leading to significant territorial losses and a deepening humanitarian emergency.
Nigeria has witnessed significant civil unrest due to police misconduct. In August 2024, during protests against economic hardship, Nigerian police reportedly used excessive force, resulting in at least 24 deaths. These demonstrations, known as the “#10DaysOfRage” protests, were the largest since the #EndSARS movement in 2020, which also decried police brutality. Despite public outcry, accountability …