Zambia Cancels RightsCon 2026: Human Rights Watch Warns of Chinese Interference and Closing Civic Space

The Zambian government’s decision to postpone RightsCon 2026, effectively canceling the global summit on human rights and technology, has sparked international condemnation and raised urgent questions about the state of civic space in the country. Scheduled to accept place in Lusaka from May 5 to 8, 2026, the event was intended to be the 14th edition of a premier gathering where activists, technologists, and policymakers strategize for a free and open digital world.

The abrupt reversal comes despite earlier assurances from the Zambian Ministry of Technology and Science, which had welcomed the event as consistent with the national development agenda. The sudden shift has led organizers at Access Now to warn registered participants against traveling to the capital, citing a lack of stability and transparency regarding the event’s status.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, suggest the move is an attempt by the authorities to control the human rights agenda and suppress critical discussions. The timing is particularly sensitive, as Zambia approaches its general elections in August 2026, a period that observers say has seen an increase in hostility toward perceived political opposition, and dissent.

The controversy is further complicated by reports of diplomatic pressure. Some activists and local media outlets suggest that the Zambian government reacted to displeasure from the Chinese government regarding the invitation of delegates from Taiwan. While the Zambian government has not officially confirmed these reports, the summit was slated to be held at the Mulungushi Conference Center, a facility that underwent a reported US$60 million refurbishment in 2020 funded by China.

Contradictory Justifications and Security Clearances

The official reasons provided by the Zambian government for the postponement have been described by critics as flimsy. In a statement released on April 29, the government claimed the move was necessitated by the need for comprehensive disclosure […] relating to key thematic issues proposed for discussion during the Summit. This suggests a desire to vet or modify the topics of conversation before they could be presented on a global stage.

Parallel to this, the technology and science minister previously indicated that the postponement was required to facilitate pending administrative and security clearances for certain speakers. For many in the digital rights community, these justifications appear to be a veil for censorship, designed to prevent a critical examination of Zambia’s own domestic policies during the summit.

“The Zambia government’s flimsy reasons for postponing RightsCon suggest that the government wanted to control the summit’s human rights agenda. The authorities should fully explain the last-minute cancellation, which is a serious loss for the promotion of human rights.” Idriss Ali Nassah, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch

The impact of the cancellation extends beyond the loss of a conference. RightsCon was intended to host sessions on the export of surveillance technology, corporate accountability, and the ethics of using technology in human rights research—topics that often intersect with the interests of powerful state actors and the companies that supply them.

The Closing of Zambia’s Civic Space

The cancellation of RightsCon 2026 does not occur in a vacuum. It follows a trend of increasing restrictions on fundamental freedoms within Zambia. Academic Sishuwa Sishuwa has noted that the government may have feared that human rights activists would put the country’s record under intense scrutiny, particularly regarding the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.

A significant point of contention is the Zambian Parliament’s enactment of the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act in April 2025. Civil society organizations have argued that these laws do not adhere to international human rights standards and serve as tools to curtail online expression and arrest political opponents. The Law Association of Zambia has since petitioned the High Court to declare provisions of the Cyber Crimes Act unconstitutional, a matter that remains pending in the judicial system.

The Net Rights Coalition, supported by more than 130 digital rights stakeholders, issued a statement asserting that the effective cancellation of the summit raises grave concerns about the closing of civic space. This pattern of restriction is seen by some as a precursor to the official campaign for the August general election, where the government may seek to minimize organized opposition.

“By shutting down RightsCon, the Zambian government is shutting down discussions and opportunities to strategize and connect on some of the most crucial human rights issues of our time. It’s a terrible blow to the digital rights movement in Zambia and globally.” Deborah Brown, technology and rights deputy director at Human Rights Watch

The Geopolitical Dimension: China and Taiwan

The alleged role of the Chinese government in the cancellation highlights the complex interplay between infrastructure investment and political autonomy in Zambia. China is a major investor in the Zambian mining sector and a key partner in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Mulungushi Conference Center, the intended venue for RightsCon, was refurbished with Chinese funds in 2020. At the time, the support was described as a gift from […] China with no strings attached.

However, reports from a civil society activist on the organizing committee and local media suggest that the no strings attached promise may have been compromised. The reports indicate that Chinese authorities expressed displeasure over the invitation of Taiwanese delegates, who might have used the platform to speak against the Chinese government. This tension reflects a broader global struggle over the recognition and representation of Taiwan in international forums.

Human Rights Watch has long documented labor and safety abuses associated with Chinese mining interests in Zambia. The organization notes that despite public outcry, the Zambian government has historically shown little willingness to effectively regulate these operations, potentially explaining why Lusaka would prioritize Chinese diplomatic concerns over the hosting of a human rights summit.

Comparative Context of Digital Rights Summits

The situation in Zambia echoes previous challenges faced by the digital rights movement. In 2023, over 300 participants—mostly from the Global South—were denied entry to a RightsCon event in Costa Rica after applying for visa-on-arrival. Similarly, in 2024, the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Saudi Arabia was criticized for discouraging civil society participation due to fears of surveillance and reprisals, leading to the censorship of human rights discussions.

What This Means for Global Digital Rights

The effective cancellation of RightsCon 2026 is viewed as a warning sign for the international community. It underscores the risk of hosting high-stakes human rights events in countries where the government’s commitment to free expression is conditional or subject to the influence of foreign investors.

For the digital rights movement in Zambia, the blow is twofold: they lose a prestigious international platform to highlight local struggles, and they face a government that is increasingly using “security clearances” and “administrative needs” as justifications for silencing dissent. As the country moves toward the 2026 elections, the ability of civil society to meet and organize without government interference will be a critical metric of Zambia’s democratic health.

The international community now looks toward the Zambian High Court’s pending ruling on the constitutionality of the Cyber Crimes Act as a potential turning point. A ruling against the government could provide a legal opening for civil society to reclaim some of the space lost in the wake of the RightsCon cancellation.

The next critical checkpoint will be the High Court’s decision regarding the Law Association of Zambia’s petition against the Cyber Crimes Act. We will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and any further statements from the Zambian Ministry of Technology and Science.

Do you believe international summits should be hosted in countries with contested human rights records? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share this story on social media to join the conversation.