


2026 ID Day Campaign
DRIVEN BY ID4AFRICA • 16 SEPTEMBER 2026
The 2026 ID Day theme My Identity, My Shadow draws on a simple yet powerful metaphor: just as a shadow accompanies us throughout our lives, our identity is an inseparable part of who we are.
Identity is more than an administrative construct—it is the foundation upon which individuals are recognized, included, protected, and empowered to participate fully in society. This theme reminds us that every person deserves a trusted legal identity that remains with them throughout their life journey, enabling access to rights, services, and opportunities.
GALLERY
Videos and photos from local and national ID Day commemorations across Africa, listed alphabetically by country

ID DAY 2026 ACROSS AFRICA
Discover how countries across Africa are commemorating Identity Day through national events, public outreach and community activities.
ALGERIA
- National congress on Digital Identity
ANGOLA
1. Message from His Excellency the Minister of Justice and Human Rights.
2. Public awareness campaign and issuance of National Identity Cards.
3. Colloquium on: "Legal Identity in Angola, the Transition to Digital Identity, and Good Practices in Africa Connecting Identity, Payments and Data Exchange with Legal and Social Safeguards."
BENIN
1. Capacity-building and practice-harmonization session (September 8, 9, and 10, 2026)
2. Special enrollment and FID issuance operation in AGONVE (September 12, 13, 19, and 26, 2026)
3. Identity Day in PARAKOU (September 16, 2026)
- Conference and panel discussion
- Awareness-raising tour
BURKINA FASO
- Special operations for issuing AES biometric ID
- Open days at headquarters and regional offices
- Official celebration of International Identity Day
- Panel discussions
- Presentation of the Citizen Identification Award of Excellence and certificates of recognition
BURUNDI
- Official ceremony
- Information and guidance session on identity
- Educational session on biometrics
CAMEROON
- Fitness walk (Sept. 12)
- ‘Knowledge contest on the theme of identity’ (Sept. 15)
- Conference (Sept. 16)
- Identity Fair (Sept. 16)
CAPE VERDE
Awareness campaigns in public spaces, on social media, through the media...
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
- Ministerial address
- Activities for orphaned children (issuance of birth certificates, distribution of school supplies)
CHAD
- Issuance of ID cards to refugees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sept. 16)
- Discussion and debate with schoolchildren and college students at the Maison des Entrepreneurs de Moursal (MEM) (Sept. 16)
CONGO
Activities to be confirmed
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
- Official ceremony
- Expert panels
- Exhibition
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Media campaign
ESWATINI
- Outreach, registration and sensitization activities
ETHIOPIA
- Social media campaign, public screen videos, and rural market activations
GABON
- Awareness-raising event for schoolchildren including an interactive video and workshops
GAMBIA
- Stakeholder meeting
GHANA
- Participation in TV Health and Fitness Show (Aug 29)
- Sensitization exercises in churches and mosques (Sept. 6, 11)
- Media Tour (Sept. 14)
- ID Day Float & Mass Registration exercise at University of Ghana (Sept. 16)
- Inter-Agency Games (Sept. 19)
GUINEA
- Artistic performances and skits
- Panel discussion on the process of obtaining identity documents in Guinea
GUINEA-BISSAU
-Registration campaign at registry offices and health centres
- ID card issuance
KENYA
- Mobile outreach registrations in schools, issuance of id cards and birth certificates (Sept. 15, 16)
LESOTHO
- Launch of 30 new registration workstations at Health Facilities and Community Council Offices (Oct.)
ARTICLES
Read articles, insights and campaign coverage exploring why legal identity matters.
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[Uganda] NIRA sets identity expo to close 10 million-person registration gap
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[Biometric Update] International Identity Day shifts focus beyond coverage to trust
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[Tanzania] NIDA to register children under 18 in new ID drive - The Respondent
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[Senegal] Identité numérique : un expert pointe un problème de gouvernance
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[Tanzania] Government Emphasizes Legal Identity to Strengthen Services and the Digital Economy.
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[Tanzania] Nida yaondoa kikwazo cha umri, Namba kuunganisha huduma za kiraia
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[Tanzania] DK.MWIGULU:WATU ZAIDI YA MILIONI MBILI HAWAJACHUKUA VITAMBULISHO NIDA
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[Ghana] NIA Marks Identity Day with Public Education Float and Special Mass Registration Exercise
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[Ghana] NIA marks Identity Day with public education float, mass registration exercise
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[DR Congo] Identité : l’ONIP réaffirme son engagement pour les droits et l’inclusion en RDC
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[DR Congo] September 16, 2026: The DRC is determined to make identity a tool for protecting rights
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[Uganda] Hundreds Turn up for First Ever NIRA Expo Symposium
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[Uganda] URA says TIN-NIN shift will curb tax fraud, improve services
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[Uganda] Minister Kamuntu Commends NIRA’s Performance as My Identity Expo and Symposium Kicks Off
SOCIAL MEDIA
Explore how our coalition partners and the world brought ID Day 2026 to life through events, campaigns and community activities shared on social media.

















































