Sedition laws are a serious threat to freedom of expression and democracy in Africa. These laws are often used to silence dissent and criminalize legitimate criticism of the government. In recent years, there has been a worrying trend of African governments enacting new laws or expanding the scope of existing laws to incorporate colonial era sedition laws elements.
There is a clear need to revitalise the campaign against sedition laws in Africa. This can be done by raising awareness of the dangers of these laws, mobilizing public support for their repeal, and challenging sedition laws in court.
The Civic Rights Cluster of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, SALC, has created a policy brief addressing these issues titled REVITALISING THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEDITION AND INSULT OFFENCES IN AFRICA.
