Published April 2026

In April 2026, ICNL participated in the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) in Côte d’Ivoire, joining partners and civil society leaders from across the continent to reflect on the future of digital governance and civic space. As part of this engagement, ICNL supported a key session on Monitoring Digital Transformations: Civil Society Responses to Civic Space Opportunities and Threats, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities shaping digital rights in Africa.

During the session, the Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA) launched its new monitoring report, presenting comparative findings from nine countries. The report offers a timely snapshot of how digital transformation is unfolding across the region, with a focus on data protection, internet access, and the evolving legal landscape. It also captures how civil society organizations are adapting, advocating, and collaborating to defend and expand civic freedoms online.

The launch also marked a moment of growth for the alliance. DRAA welcomed six new member organizations and expanded to Burundi, bringing in new perspectives from tech and media actors, feminist leaders, and academia. At the same time, the alliance is strengthening coordination through new thematic clusters under its 2026–2028 strategy, including legal, data protection, and women and children.

ICNL is proud to be part of the Digital Rights Alliance Africa as a regional initiative that strengthens collective action, amplifies local expertise, and advances an open and inclusive digital civic space.