Internet access has been temporarily severed in Senegal, as declared by the government on Monday, a day after President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election triggered protests from hundreds of citizens.
The government, led by Communication Minister Moussa Bocar Thiam, justified the move, stating it was necessary to curb the dissemination of “hateful and subversive messages relayed on social networks in a context of threats of disturbances to public order.”
This action follows the shutdown of a private television channel in Senegal on the previous day, with authorities accusing it of inciting violence in its coverage of the protests.
Amnesty International’s Senegal chapter has condemned the government’s measures, urging it to “respect freedom of the press and the rights of citizens to be informed.”
Lawmakers are set to debate on Monday a bill proposing to reschedule the presidential vote for August 25, allowing President Sall to stay in power until his successor is installed. The original election date was February 25.
As #FreeSenegal trends on social media, more demonstrations were planned outside the parliament on Monday. Former Prime Minister and opposition candidate Aminata Touré, who was arrested during Sunday’s protest, announced her release in an online post and called for the defense of democracy, rejecting the postponement of the presidential election.
Another opposition candidate, Daouda Ndiaye, reported being attacked by the police. In an online post, he announced his hospitalization but reiterated the demand for the election to be held on February 25.
