Human rights defenders from across Africa gathered in Dakar, Senegal, on October 12, 2026, for the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The gathering focuses on growing civic space violations, transnational repression, and environmental defender protections, running through October 21, 2026.
Ahead of the public proceedings that opened on October 12, 2026, advocacy networks coordinated capacity-building workshops and thematic debates to shape the commission’s upcoming country reviews and policy recommendations.
Pre-Session Training and NGO Forum Mobilize Continental Defenders
The 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) was preceded by specialized preparatory work in the Senegalese capital. The International Service for Human Rights, alongside Front Line Defenders and Defend Defenders, hosted a targeted training program on October 6, 7, and 11, 2026. The sessions brought together advocates specializing in environmental protection, digital rights, women’s advocacy, and defender security.
Running concurrently from October 8 to 10, 2026, the NGO Forum served as a primary advocacy platform. Participants examined ongoing implementation gaps, contemporary governance hurdles, and the acute pressures facing civil society across the continent.
Sahrawi civil society delegates took part in both the NGO Forum and the broader ACHPR sessions. Representatives from organizations operating in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and refugee camps sought to spotlight local violations, the treatment of Sahrawi defenders, and the status of political prisoners held in Moroccan prisons.
ISHR Statement Details Escalating Restrictions in Guinea, Cameroon, and Zambia
On October 13, 2026, the International Service for Human Rights delivered an official address addressing severe civic space deteriorations. The organization highlighted a marked resurgence of violations affecting the freedoms of association and assembly in Cameroon, Zambia, and Guinea.
In Cameroon, advocates face administrative hurdles ranging from difficult license renewals and suspended organizational activities to restrictive funding regulations. Most critically, human rights defenders have died while in police custody or at the hands of security personnel. Meanwhile, Zambian authorities enforce stringent civic restrictions through legislation such as the Public Order Act and the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act.
Turning to Guinea, the situation prompted an immediate call for direct investigative oversight. In light of the seriousness and urgency of this situation in Guinea, ISHR calls on the African Commission to carry out a mission in the country in order to assess the situation on the ground and make urgent recommendations to the authorities,
stated Lidawh-wè Fabienne Dontema, Africa Legal and Advocacy Officer at ISHR.
Transnational Repression and Shadow Reporting Shape ACHPR Advocacy
Beyond specific country crises, advocates in Dakar pushed for structural reforms to counter cross-border intimidation. The International Service for Human Rights urged the African Commission to adopt a dedicated resolution on transnational repression and to launch a comprehensive, continent-wide study examining its scale, patterns, methods, perpetrators, and impact on fundamental freedoms.
Civil society engagement extended into formal country reviews through shadow reporting. Organizations submitted independent assessments ahead of evaluations for Cameroon, Mauritius, and Zambia, aiming to counter official narratives and inform commission findings.
The formal public session schedule runs through October 21, 2026, incorporating targeted side events.