Civil liberties shrink as states crack down on dissent
A riot police officer detains a protester during the anti-government demonstrations dubbed the “Saba Saba People’s March” in the Kangemi area of Nairobi, Kenya, on July 7, 2025.
Freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association are rapidly shrinking in countries, especially across Africa, according to a new report by Civicus — a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists
The Civicus flagship report, People Power Under Attack 2025, documented protesters being detained in at least 82 countries, journalists in 73, and human rights defenders in 71 countries worldwide.
