RightsCon 2026 canceled in Zambia due to foreign interference amid Chinese diplomatic pressure over Taiwanese participants

RightsCon 2026, a major global digital rights summit planned for April 29 in Lusaka, Zambia, involving over 2,600 in-person and 1,100 online participants from 150+ countries, was abruptly postponed on April 28 by the Zambian government. Organizers had partnered closely with multiple Zambian ministries and followed a multi-year site selection and preparation process. The government’s sudden cancellation was reportedly triggered by diplomatic pressure from China over the planned participation of Taiwanese civil society members. Despite efforts by organizers to seek explanation and dialogue, the government issued only cryptic, informal communications and state media announcements without formal notices. Organizers stated the government demanded censoring topics and excluding at-risk communities to proceed, which they rejected as unacceptable. The unilateral decision was condemned as evidence of transnational repression undermining civic freedoms and shrinking democratic spaces. Access Now and RightsCon pledged to support affected partners and seek a new venue for future conferences.