AFRO-NETS> The Right to Communicate: The Internet in Africa

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@harare.iafrica.com>]

The Right to Communicate: The Internet in Africa
------------------------------------------------

African countries are finally gaining increasing access to the Inter-
net, while authorities continue to maintain control of the medium at 
the same time, says a new ARTICLE 19 report entitled "The Right to Com-
municate: The Internet in Africa". According to the report, 51 out of 
Africa's 54 countries have access to the Internet, even though it is 
expensive and is impeded by communications barriers. ARTICLE 19 says, 
"E-mail and discussion groups, in particular, have been quickly em-
braced as powerful tools for sharing information and ideas." Authori-
ties have used various methods to control access to the Internet, some 
by maintaining a monopoly on telecommunications, others by controlling 
new services such as the Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Nonethe-
less, the report says, "journalists and human right organizations in 
Africa have been quick to embrace e-mail because of its relative speed 
and reliability, as well as its ability to circumvent government cen-
sorship and control."  

To obtain a copy contact: 
ARTICLE 19
33 Islington High St.
London N19LH, U.K.
Tel: +44-171-278-9292
mailto:article19@gn.apc.org
http://www.gn.apc.org/article19/


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