Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Jideofor Adibe, has called for stronger civil society coalitions, financial transparency and responsible activism to protect civic space in West Africa.
Adibe made the call in a keynote address titled, “40 Years of the African Charter – Changing Phases of the Civic Space,” delivered at a one-day intergenerational dialogue for activists in Abuja.
The event, which focused on strengthening youth activism and protecting civic space in West Africa, was attended by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore and other notable personalities.
Prof. Adibe identified government repression, restrictive legislation, digital surveillance, internet shutdowns and judicial harassment as growing threats to civic engagement and the protection of human rights across the region.
He noted that governments were increasingly using cybercrime, anti-terrorism and misinformation laws to restrict online expression, target investigative journalists and subject civil society organisations to intrusive regulatory requirements.
The professor also identified arbitrary arrests, prolonged pre-trial detention and restrictions on peaceful protests as challenges confronting human rights defenders, community organisers and independent advocacy groups.
However, he noted that civil society organisations were responding to these challenges through decentralised movements, alternative funding mechanisms, digital tools and coalition-building across national borders.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration among legal collectives, investigative journalists and youth networks in providing legal assistance to detained activists and strengthening advocacy efforts across West Africa.
Citing Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement, Senegal’s Y’en a Marre and Burkina Faso’s Le Balai Citoyen, he said grassroots mobilisation had demonstrated the capacity of citizens to organise and hold political leaders accountable.
Adibe also stressed the importance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, noting that its provisions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly provided a legal foundation for protecting civic participation.
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He explained that the Charter had created opportunities for civil society organisations to challenge human rights violations through regional institutions, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
However, he warned that the abuse of activism through extortion, political manipulation, foreign interference and excessive dependence on donor interests could undermine the credibility of civil society organisations.
To safeguard civic space, Adibe called for greater financial transparency, accountability to grassroots constituents, ethical standards and proportionate regulation of civil society organisations.
He also advocated stronger community-based movements and alliances involving human rights groups, journalists, trade unions, youth networks and other advocacy organisations.
