Shortly after President Macky Sall announced an extended postponement of the presidential election, Senegalese officials cut off the nation’s internet access.
The election, which was originally set for February 25, 2024, was postponed in response to large demonstrations, which were followed by the closure.
The Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs, Moussa Bocar Thiam, made the announcement of the internet shutdown in a statement on Sunday, one day after the election was rescheduled.
“Starting Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 10 p.m., the internet for mobile data users is temporarily suspended,” Mr. Thiam said. He claimed that the reason for the suspension was “the spread of several hateful and subversive messages relayed on social networks in a context of threats of disturbances to public order.”
The government has being urged to restore internet connection by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which has raised worry over Senegal’s internet ban in light of the election’s postponement.
Additionally, Senegal’s authorities were asked on Sunday by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, to select a new date for the nation’s presidential election as soon as possible.