The African Editors Forum (TAEF) is boycotting the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) events in Lusaka following the Zambian authorities’ cancellation of the digital human rights conference, RightsCon.
RightsCon was set to take off in the Zambian capital from May 5 to 8, 2026, where some 5000 delegates from all over the world were expected. RightsCon was to follow immediately after the World Press Freedom Day events starting from May 3.
In a statement issued today May 1, 2026 and signed by its President, Churchill Otieno, TAEF condemned in the strongest terms, the Zambian government’s heavy-handed action that forced the cancellation of RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka, only days before thousands of delegates were expected to gather for a critical global conversation on digital rights, human rights, free expression, and democratic accountability.
According to TAEF, the language of “postponement” cannot disguise the truth.
“This was state pressure dressed as procedure. Any demand that a rights conference align with official “national values” turns the state into the arbiter of legitimate speech and should alarm every defender of democracy,” the statement said.
TAEF noted that Zambia had invited the world, and Africa had rallied behind Zambia. “What was shaping up as a major continental success has instead become a painful embarrassment and a deep let-down to Zambian civil society, journalists, digital rights defenders, young people, activists, and all Africans who had supported Zambia’s hosting. TAEF stands in full solidarity with all well-meaning comrades in Zambia who have been so badly let down by their government,” the group said.
It further stated that editors of Africa will never support the muzzling of any voice.
“We do not defend speech because we agree with all of it. We defend it because democracy demands that societies hear, test, contest, and answer all voices in the public square.
In solidarity with Zambian citizens of conscience, the global digital rights community, and all well-meaning citizens of the world, TAEF confirms that it will boycott the planned convenings in Lusaka. This boycott is not against the people of Zambia. It is for them,” it said.
And called on the Zambian government to give a full and honest account of the circumstances that led to this cancellation, apologise to the organisers and partners, and provide credible guarantees that Zambia remains committed to freedom of expression, assembly, media freedom, digital rights, and open civic debate.
“Africa does not need governments that host the world with one hand and silence it with the other,” it said.
This boycott effectively affects the African Media Convention which was also being hosted as part of the WPFD events.
In another development, TikTok has also cancelled a networking reception it was hosting alongside the events in Lusaka.
In an email announcing the cancellation, it wrote, “We regret to inform you that the AMC TikTok Networking Reception, scheduled for May 4, has been cancelled. This decision follows the cancellation of RightsCon, which has significantly impacted AMC and WPFD activities, as well as several related events that were planned in Zambia. In addition, many delegates who had planned to attend the event have had to cancel their travel following this update.”
