The 2024 Annual Report by ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa highlights a critical moment for freedom of expression across the region. At a time when civic space is shrinking and digital repression is intensifying, the report documents both the scale of the challenges and the resilience of those defending fundamental rights.
Drawing on insights from the Global Expression Report 2024, the publication shows that over half of the world’s population lives in countries where freedom of expression is in crisis, and Eastern Africa reflects this global trend. Governments across the region have increasingly used restrictive laws, internet shutdowns, and surveillance to silence dissent, target journalists, and limit public discourse.
Despite these pressures, the report underscores the determination of civil society, journalists, and grassroots movements. From youth-led activism to regional advocacy efforts grounded in frameworks including the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms, communities continue to resist censorship and demand accountability.
The report also outlines ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa’s work in 2024: challenging repressive laws, supporting digital rights, strengthening legal protections, and fostering regional solidarity. It further introduces the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, which aims to build a more resilient movement for free expression through advocacy, partnerships, and community empowerment.
At its core, this report is both a warning and a call to action, reaffirming that freedom of expression is not a privilege, but a right that must be actively defended.