EU Ambassador, H.E. Ana Beatriz Martins delivers opening speech at 12th Edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2025
Honourable Members of Parliament, Namibian Ministry of ICT, Namibia Internet Governance Forum, Respected Civil Society Representatives, and champions of digital rights.
It is a great pleasure to join you for this two-day workshop ahead of the twelfth edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa.
Allow me first to recognise the organisers of this important gathering – the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa, better known as CIPESA, and their partners at Small Media. CIPESA has, over the years, built the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa into the leading continental platform on digital rights and internet freedom. For over a decade, this forum has brought together the brightest minds and most passionate advocates.
I would also like to commend the Namibian Ministry of ICT and the Namibia Internet Governance Forum for partnering with CIPESA to realise this landmark event in Windhoek. It is a privilege to see this year’s edition hosted here in Namibia – a country where the European Union has consistently invested in democratic governance and a human-centric digital transformation. And we are pleased that with the EU support to the project Civil Society Alliances for
Digital Empowerment (CADE), civil society organisations and policy makers can convene to discuss challenges of advancing digital rights through the Universal Peer review process.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We live in an era of rapid technological change. The digital sphere is no longer separate from our social, political, or economic life. It is interwoven with our everyday lives, the growth of our economies, and the function of our governments. Defending internet freedom, means defending our most fundamental civil rights in the digital age: the freedom to connect, communicate, and access information online.
The African continent stands at the forefront of a digital renaissance. With over 1.4 billion people and the world's youngest population, Africa is not just participating in the digital transformation - it is leading it. From mobile banking innovations that have revolutionised financial inclusion to tech hubs spawning the next generation of global solutions, Africa's digital story is one of remarkable ingenuity and resilience.
Yet, as we celebrate these achievements, we must also confront the challenges that threaten to undermine this progress. Internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, cybercrime, and unequal access to digital infrastructure continue to cast shadows over Africa's digital landscape. This is precisely why forums like this one are essential.
Across the continent, priorities include expanding secure connectivity, driving digital innovation, building a digital economy and safeguarding the digital civic space. The EU under its Global Gateway strategy, builds on these priorities and is investing in digital infrastructure that connect millions of people to the internet for the first time. But our partnership goes beyond infrastructure - our support for digital governance programmes has helped strengthen the institutional frameworks necessary to protect online rights. Through thematic instruments, we have supported over 200 civil society organisations across Africa in their vital work defending digital rights, fighting against internet restrictions, and promoting digital literacy. These partnerships have built networks of digital rights defenders.
The past year has presented us with both unprecedented opportunities and sobering challenges. While we have witnessed remarkable innovations in artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and digital governance, we have also seen an alarming increase in internet shutdowns, with Africa experiencing more connectivity disruptions than any other continent. The EU stands firmly with all those who refuse to accept that connectivity is a privilege rather than a right.
As we look toward the future, the European Union believes that digital innovation and human rights protection are not competing objectives - they are complementary forces that, when properly balanced, create the conditions for sustainable and inclusive digital development.
An encouraging development in recent years has been the strategic integration of digital rights advocacy into the Universal Periodic Review process. The Universal Periodic Review, as the UN's unique mechanism for reviewing the human rights records of all UN member states, has become an increasingly powerful platform for amplifying the achievements and concerns of digital rights advocates across Africa.
The leadership of governments and civil society organisations to advocate for and include digital rights as human rights in the Universal Periodic Review is a powerful illustration of issues such as freedom of expression online, internet shutdowns, and digital inclusion gaining visibility at national and international levels. Recommendations made during one review cycle become benchmarks for measuring progress in subsequent cycles. This creates sustained pressure for implementation and provides advocates with concrete tools for accountability. I am delighted that this aspect is at the core of your two-day workshop.
As I conclude, let me emphasise that the European Union's commitment to internet freedom in Africa flows from our shared belief that every person, regardless of their geographic location or economic circumstances, deserves to participate fully in the digital age. We see many opportunities linking digitalisation, internet freedom and development, and I strongly believe, that the 12th edition of this forum represents more than just another gathering of experts and advocates. It represents twelve years of persistent efforts, of sustained advocacy, of networks built and knowledge shared – a maturation of Africa's digital rights movement.
As we engage in the important discussions ahead, know that the European Union stands with you not as a distant partner, but as a committed ally to advance digital rights and internet freedom. Together, we will continue to build bridges across the digital divide, defend the open internet, and ensure that technology serves as a tool for human empowerment.
The future of internet freedom in Africa - and indeed, the world - depends on the work we do together.
Thank you, and I look forward to our discussions.
EUDEL