Senegal enforces mobile data cut off to prevent street incidents
Senegal Temporarily Cuts Off Mobile Data to Prevent Protests and Hate Messages
The Senegalese Ministry of Communications has announced a temporary shutdown of mobile data in an effort to prevent the spread of hate messages and potential street protests that could disrupt public order through social media. This decision comes in the wake of the postponement of the presidential election to December 15 and the banning of a protest organized by a joint collective called “Aar Sunu Election (Let’s protect our elections)” due to security concerns.
The protest, which was supported by 13 of the 20 presidential candidates, was set to take place today but has been prohibited for security reasons. This comes after violent clashes between police and activists during demonstrations held across the country on February 9, in response to the postponement of the election. The police used pepper gas to intervene against the demonstrators, resulting in the loss of three lives.
Senegalese President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the election, which was originally scheduled for February 25, was made in response to a crisis between the legislature and the judiciary. However, this move has sparked widespread reactions from various segments of society, particularly civil society.
The situation in Senegal remains tense as the government takes measures to maintain public order and security. The temporary shutdown of mobile data is one such measure aimed at preventing further unrest and the spread of potentially harmful messages through social media. As the country navigates through this challenging period, it is crucial for all parties involved to seek peaceful and constructive solutions to ensure a fair and democratic electoral process.
