WE ARE THE
RESISTANCE
Authoritarianism is a global, interconnected network. It shares tactics, technologies, and strategies for repression. For too long, those on the frontlines of democracy have fought back in isolation.
Defiance Against Dictatorship (DAD) was created to change that.
We are not just an organization; we are a strategic architecture for resistance. We were born from the struggle, built to serve the movements on the ground, and dedicated to the principle that tyranny cannot stand against a united, equipped, and amplified front.
OUR STORY
FORGED IN THE FIGHT
DAD wasn't conceived in a quiet boardroom or a university hall. It was forged in the heat of an active democratic struggle. Our genesis is rooted in the fight to protect Zimbabwe's constitution from mutilation by a regime determined to entrench its power.
We saw firsthand the courage of citizen-led movements pushing back against overwhelming state power. We also saw their strategic gaps—the need for specialized legal tools, for digital protection against state surveillance, and for a global megaphone to broadcast their fight beyond national borders.
We realized the need was universal. DAD was built to be the strategic ally we wished we had: a pan-African shield designed to empower, equip, and amplify the defiance of the people.
OUR
PHILOSOPHY
Our work is anchored in a set of core beliefs that guide every decision, partnership, and action we take.
Tyranny Knows No Borders; Neither Can Solidarity.
We are a resolutely pan-African organization. The playbook of modern authoritarianism is transnational, with autocrats learning from one another. Our response must also be connected, sharing strategies for resilience and success across the continent. A victory for democracy in one nation creates momentum for all.
Power Belongs to the People.
We are fiercely citizen-led and non-partisan. Our loyalty is not to any political party or candidate, but to the integrity of the democratic process and the universal rights of the people. True change is driven from the grassroots up, and our role is to serve, not to lead, those movements.
Courage Must Be Strategic.
We are committed to unwavering non-violence, not just as a moral principle, but as the most powerful and sustainable path to democratic change. We pair the courage of non-violent action with rigorous, evidence-based strategies to ensure that sacrifices made on the frontlines lead to tangible victories.