Tech enthusiasts and activists from across the globe will once again convene for the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25) in Windhoek, Namibia.
The 12th edition is scheduled for September 25-27, 2025, and will bring together leading voices at the intersection of digital rights, technology, governance, and innovation across the continent through plenaries, workshops, exhibitions, and pre-event activities.
What began in 2014 as a modest convening, FIFAfrica has now evolved into the continent’s leading digital rights forum, serving as a launchpad for advocacy campaigns, cross-sector collaborations, and policy innovation – calling for open, inclusive, and secure digital ecosystems across Africa.
This year’s forum will be co-hosted by the Namibian ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) and the Namibia Internet Governance Forum (NamIGF), in partnership with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), the conveners of FIFAfrica since its inception in 2014.
With the theme of ensuring inclusive, rights-based, and secure digital futures, FIFAfrica25 comes at a critical moment for Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. There will be special focus on climate and environmental justice in the digital age, mental health and digital wellbeing, the creator/content economy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ethical tech deployment, digital safety for women, LGBTQ+ persons, and minorities
“This forum comes at a critical moment for Africa’s digital future, and we welcome the opportunity to engage with diverse voices from across the continent and beyond in shaping a rights-respecting, secure, and innovative digital landscape,” minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Emma Inamutila Theofelus Namibia’s selection as this year’s host is particularly symbolic.
The country is globally recognised for its historic role in advancing media freedom, having birthed the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, a seminal statement advocating for independent and pluralistic media.
Now, nearly 35 years later, the same city will host discussions on emerging digital challenges, from AI governance and disinformation, to platform accountability, digital inclusion, and data sovereignty. NamIGF Chairperson Albetine Shipena said, “We are honored to co-host the FIFAfrica25 here in Namibia. This partnership with MICT and CIPESA marks a significant step in advancing digital rights, open governance, and meaningful multistakeholder engagement across the continent. As the NamIGF, we are proud to contribute to shaping a more inclusive and secure internet ecosystem, while spotlighting Namibia’s growing role in regional and global digital conversations.”
The NamIGF, established in 2017, has become a cornerstone for multistakeholder engagement on internet-related public policy in Namibia, and this collaboration underscores the forum’s enduring commitment to inclusivity.
“It is essential that Africans inform and shape the frameworks that govern our digital spaces. We are honoured to partner with the Namibian government and NamIGF to convene this critical conversation on the continent,” said Dr Wairagala Wakabi, executive director at CIPESA.
As has become tradition, FIFAfrica25 will also commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), celebrated annually on September 28.