Prior to a prohibited march against the postponement of a presidential election, Senegal blocked mobile internet access on Tuesday. Human rights organisations claimed that the government was employing excessively harsh measures to quell popular opposition to the postponement.
Senegal is in crisis mode following the sudden postponement of the vote scheduled for February 25 to December, which has heightened opposition to what many perceive to be an attempt to prolong President Macky Sall’s term and a threat to one of the last democracies in coup-hit West Africa.
Following last week’s deadly protest-police clashes, the government ordered mobile operators to halt internet access and refused to allow activist groups’ planned silent march on Tuesday.
The communications ministry said in a statement that the previous unrest had been sparked by hateful and subversive online messages, which is why the suspension was required.
According to online watchdog Netblocks, “the incident underscores the growing use of mass censorship in the country.”
The authorities were accused by Amnesty International and the UN human rights office of violating demonstrators’ fundamental rights to free speech and assembly and of using excessive force against them.
The demonstrations that erupted on Friday and Saturday throughout Senegalese cities, including the capital Dakar, resulted in three fatalities and approximately 270 arrests.
