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.
LIBERIA
- Presidential Proclamation declaring Wednesday, September 16,
2026 as a National Working Holiday
- Public awareness campaign (press conferences,
radio talk shows, community outreach with PA system mounted on van, etc.)
- Parade with Marching Band & PA System
- Official ID Day ceremony
MADAGASCAR
- High-level conference
- Inauguration of a state-of-the-art facility for the Operational Command Center for Biometric Enrollment, followed by the launch of the second phase of biometric enrollment
- Youth gathering featuring a carnival and an awareness campaign
MALAWI
- Launch of Digital ID (Sept. 16)
MAURITIUS
Activities to be confirmed
MOZAMBIQUE
- Awareness raising campaigns in provinces
- Birth registration and ID issuance
NAMIBIA
- Official commemoration program, including ID registration of school learners and discussions around identity
NIGER
- Launch of mass registration
- Launch of the biometric passport
NIGERIA
- Official ID Day ceremony
SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE
- Training on biometric kits (Sept. 8)
- Opening of proposals for the supply of servers for the Digital Identity system (Sept. 8)
- Discussion at Escola Oficial dos Sonhos primary school (Sept. 14)
- Signing of the Institutional Cooperation Protocol for the operationalization of the National Digital Identity Program (PNID) (Sept. 16)
- Delivery of biometric kits for data collection (Sept. 16)
SENEGAL
- Institutional panel in Pire Gourèye (Sept. 16)
- Public forum in Pire Gourèye (Sept. 16)
- Two panels at the Sokhamon Hotel (Sept. 16)
SIERRA LEONE
- Issuance of free National Identity Cards to eligible inmates
SOMALIA
- Visit to Schools for the Deaf and Blind and distribution of National ID cards (Sept. 16)
- Visit to an IDP Camp and on-site registration (Sept. 17)
- Door-to-Door Awareness and Registration Campaign (Sept. 18)
- National Commemoration Event: panels and exhibition (Sept. 19)
SOUTH AFRICA
- Social media campaign.
SOUTH SUDAN
Activities to be confirmed
TANZANIA
- Official launch of the International Identity Day Campaign (Sept. 1)
- Nationwide media campaign: television, radio, newspapers and digital
platforms
- Mass distribution of National Identity Cards
- Registration of prisoners
- Launch of the NIDA WhatsApp Channel
- Stakeholder engagement meetings
- National International Identity Day celebration
- Monitoring, documentation and reporting
TOGO
- Ongoing mass registration
TUNISIA
Activities to be confirmed
UGANDA
- My Identity Expo and Symposium (Sept. 7, 24-26)
ZAMBIA
-Airing ID Day Statement on National TV
- Special displays in allprovincial HQs and districts
ZIMBABWE
- Awareness raising March
- Speeches
- Registration exercise for identity issuance
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.
