Full Breakdown
RightsCon 2026 Postponed and Effectively Canceled in Lusaka Amid Alleged Chinese Pressure
5/2/2026, 6:39:59 AM
Postponement and De Facto Cancellation
On 29 April 2026 Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science announced that RightsCon, scheduled for 5-8 May in Lusaka, would be postponed. The ministry said the move was required to ensure “comprehensive disclosure of critical information” and “full alignment with Zambia’s national values and policy priorities.” Access Now confirmed the conference would not proceed and advised participants not to travel.
Background & Context
RightsCon 2026 would have been the first edition in Sub-Saharan Africa, expecting over 5,000 participants at the Mulungushi Conference Center, refurbished in 2020 with Chinese funding. It was scheduled just before the August 2026 election. In 2025 the government passed a Cyber Security Act and a Cyber Crimes Act that Freedom House rates “partly free” and critics say expand surveillance and criminalize online dissent.
Timeline
On 27 April Access Now learned Chinese diplomats were pressuring Zambia over Taiwanese participants; the next day Minister Mutati cited pending clearances, and on 29 April Permanent Secretary Kawana demanded comprehensive disclosure before the event was canceled.
Official Statements & Responses
Zambia described the postponement as a safeguard for national values and security. Access Now called the decision “heavy-hearted,” noting the conference could not continue without moderating topics and excluding Taiwanese participants. No external actors were named.
Criticism & Opposition
Human Rights Watch called the reasons “flimsy” and warned the move “suggests the government wanted to control the summit’s human-rights agenda,” while the Net Rights Coalition said it was “appalled,” citing a shrinking civic space. Civil-society groups condemned the cancellation as a serious attack on civil society and noted financial losses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Access Now reports Chinese diplomatic pressure over Taiwanese speakers contributed to the postponement. The Zambian government has not confirmed this, and Human Rights Watch could not verify Chinese involvement. Officials did not respond, leaving foreign influence unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I feel for the staff of Access Now, all their partners and staff in Africa who have been pushing for a RightsCon to be held on the continent, and for human rights broadly,” — Aliya Bhatia, Center for Democracy & Technology
- “This is a serious attack on civil society,” — David Kaye, former UN Special Rapporteur
- “We condemn the government's actions that led to the cancellation of RightsCon in Zambia.” — Net Rights Coalition statement
- “The Zambia government’s flimsy reasons for postponing RightsCon suggest that the government wanted to control the summit’s human rights agenda,” — Idriss Ali Nassah, Human Rights Watch
What’s Next
Access Now will seek an alternative host for the 2027 edition. Zambian civil-society groups plan to monitor compliance with international human-rights obligations. Unverified Chinese pressure claims may trigger diplomatic inquiries, and the August election is likely to intensify scrutiny of Zambia’s digital-rights policies.
