The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a continental network of some of the most prominent freedom of expression and media rights organizations in Africa, has congratulated three leaders from its member organisations who have been elected to the governing Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), their global network, for the 2026–2029 term.
The elected members are Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Nigeria; Ms Ashnah Kalemera, Programme Manager at the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Uganda; and Ms Ayaa Irene Lokang, Executive Director of the Association for Media & Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), South Sudan, who was elected to her second consecutive term.
According to AFEX, the appointments mark a significant milestone, ensuring that African perspectives, challenges, and expertise remain central to the global struggle for human rights and freedom of expression.
The IFEX Council is the governing body of the world’s largest global network dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of expression. Council members are responsible for setting global strategic and policy directions for the network; spearheading collaborative campaigns to protect journalists, combat digital censorship, and challenge impunity; and enabling global solidarity and cross-regional resource sharing to defend civic spaces.
In its congratulatory message, AFEX noted that, at a time when civic space is shrinking and freedom of expression, press freedom, and digital rights across Africa face unprecedented challenges, having robust African representation on the Council is important. It added that the election of the three advocates brings a unified voice from the African continent to the highest level of global media-rights advocacy. The network said the leaders’ presence ensures that Africa’s realities of offline and online freedom of expression and access to information directly shape global policy, fundraising, and advocacy priorities.
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), is a journalist and media specialist who has championed journalists’ safety, professional media standards, and the right to information. His experience spans roles as a union leader during military dictatorship and as a media trainer, bringing legal, safety, and operational advocacy experience to the Council.
Ashnah Kalemera, Programme Manager at CIPESA, coordinates regional projects focused on internet freedom, digital inclusion, and the use of technology in democratic processes. Her expertise includes e-governance, digital surveillance, and bridging the digital divide for marginalised communities.
Returning for a second term, Ayaa Irene Lokang, Executive Director of AMDISS and co-founder of the Female Journalists Network (FJN), has worked to safeguard media independence, promote gender-sensitive journalism, and build the capacity of local reporters through the Media Development Institute (MDI).
AFEX also paid tribute to its outgoing representatives on the Council, Dr Tabani Moyo, Regional Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), and Mr Gilbert Sandugwa, Executive Director of the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), who served as Convenor and Council member, respectively, for two consecutive terms.
The organisation said it remains proud of their discharge of duty with distinction during their tenure on the Council, where they provided leadership at continental and global levels.
AFEX then said it is proud of the leadership its members are demonstrating on the global stage by connecting conversations in the Global North and the Global South and ensuring the network continues to defend expression in these complex times. It wished the elected members a successful tenure as they continue to lead in the defence of freedom of expression.
