Senegal : Temporary suspension of mobile internet due to potential unrest related to presidential election postponement
The Senegalese government has announced a « temporary » suspension of mobile data internet starting from Sunday, February 4th, at 10 p.m. This decision was made in response to the dissemination of hateful and subversive messages on social media, intensified by threats of public disorder, according to a statement from the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy.
The Minister of Communication emphasized that telecommunications operators must comply with the notifications. This measure comes in a tense political context as members of the National Assembly are examining a bill on the postponement of the presidential election, announced by President Macky Sall just hours before the start of the election campaign.
The vote on this bill is scheduled for later in the morning, and the suspension of mobile internet raises concerns about access to information during this crucial period. President Macky Sall signed a decree on Saturday, postponing the presidential election initially set for February 25th. This is the first time since 1963 that a direct universal suffrage presidential election has been postponed in Senegal.
According to the country’s Electoral Code, a decree setting the date for a new presidential election must be published no later than 80 days before the election.
Senegalese citizens express concern about the impact of this suspension on the free flow of information and the ability to follow political developments in real-time. The next hours will be crucial for Senegal as the country navigates through exceptional political circumstances with the unprecedented postponement of the presidential election.
