From 14th October to 4th November 2024, the Africa Drive For Democracy conference on the theme of “Rediscovering Africa’s Democratic Soul: Renewing the Commitment to Democracy” was in full swing. Centred around a series of virtual sessions, the event, organised by a number of organisations including AfricTivistes, brought together some of the most influential voices from present and future generations of democracy advocates to rediscover Africa’s democratic soul and re-launch the fight for democracy rooted in African realities.  

The digital revolution has brought significant advances in our time, but it has also brought challenges such as misinformation, including that which is intentionally spread, and the use of false information as a tool for manipulation. Although the democratisation of the Internet has enabled rapid and instantaneous communication, favouring mass movements and the spread of popular causes on a global scale, concerns remain about the protection of users’ privacy. In addition, disinformation and its intentional forms raise important issues, not to mention the problems associated with surveillance capitalism.

This is the backdrop to the Africa Drive for Democracy Conference, which serves as a framework for engaging the driving forces of African democracy around panels aimed at rethinking the foundations of democratic governance and charting the course towards a more inclusive and equitable future.   

This year’s event, held in a dematerialised format, lived up to all its promises. Among the themes addressed in the four sessions : 

• African origins and prospects for democracy in Africa
• Beyond elections: democracy, dignity and inclusive growth
• Digital colonialism and the democratic opportunity in Africa
• Financial resilience for the pro-democracy movement in Africa

A thematic field that has enabled us to rethink the foundations of democratic governance and to map out the path towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

The third session on “Digital colonialism and democratic opportunities in Africa”, organised by AfricTivistes, explored with experts the latent opportunities for expanding digital democracy on the continent, as well as the limits of emerging digital trends.  

Moderated by Aisha Dabo, Programme Coordinator at AfricTivistes, the session was led by Ashnah Kalemera, Program Manager at CIPESA, Mamadou Diagne, IT Manager at AfricTivistes, and Mike Mushiri, activist and influencer. 

The rich discussions highlighted the opportunities and challenges that digital technologies pose for democracy in Africa. The appropriation of ICTs in democratic processes, the impact of digital colonialism on grassroots movements in Africa, and external technological influences on local activism in African countries were also discussed. 

As a partner, AfricTivistes thus confirms its desire and mission to promote and defend democracy on the continent through technology and the digital age. 

This conference is a prelude to the Indaba Africa Drive for Democracy, to be held in South Africa from 22 to 24 November.  

This event is the fruit of a mutual effort by AfricTivistes, AGORA, Center for Strategic Litigation, West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network, Rivonia Circle, PAWA254, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute the Democracy Hub with the support of the Ford Foundation, the IMS. Foundation, and AkinaMama wa Afrika.