Police officers arrest a protester on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi during anti-Finance Bill protests on June 27, 2024.
A new report released Wednesday by Civicus, a global alliance of civil society organisations, has highlighted an alarming decline in civic freedoms across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The “People Power Under Attack 2024” report reveals that 43 out of 50 countries and territories in the region have either “restricted” or “shut down” civic spaces, leaving nearly 900 million people living under political repression.
“Almost 70 per cent of the population in Africa south of the Sahara is now living within a repressed civic space,” said Sylvia Mbataru, a human rights lawyer and Civicus researcher.
“A vast majority are no longer able to access their rights, speak out, or engage in democracy or governance efforts. This is a deeply concerning trend.”
The report identifies Ethiopia and Kenya as countries where civic spaces have notably deteriorated. Ethiopia’s rating was downgraded to “Closed,” the lowest ranking possible, following years of government hostility towards civil society.
According to Civicus, this reflects an environment where fundamental freedoms are completely stifled.
“This rating change is the result of a multiyear assault on civic freedoms,” said Ms Mbataru. “The situation is bleak, as Ethiopian authorities have entirely shut down space for activism.”
Ethiopia joins 29 other countries worldwide in the “Closed” category, marking a grim milestone for civic freedoms.
Proposed tax Bill
Kenya, meanwhile, was downgraded from “Obstructed” to “Repressed” due to violent crackdowns on nationwide protests earlier this year. Demonstrators protesting against a proposed tax Bill were met with force, detentions, and targeted harassment of journalists and human-rights defenders.
“Kenya stood at a crossroads as a country and regional leader,” said Ms Mbataru.
“Instead of leading by example, it chose repression, stifling expression and instilling fear in its population.”
The Civicus Monitor, a global research tool tracking civic space conditions in 198 countries, evaluated incidents of protests, censorship, and arrests throughout the year.
Based on this data, each country received a score, with higher scores reflecting more open civic spaces.
