According to NetBlocks, Internet has been halted in some major cities in DR Congo while the country awaits the release of the election results held on the 30th of December, 2018. The internet shutdown, which affected the capital, Kinshasa, was reported to have been instigated by the Government so as to limit half-truths and forestall instability.
This act has met criticism from various quarters, citing fraud in a presidential election earlier flawed by violence and logistics delay.
“Past experiences in Mali, Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea have proved that internet disruptions during elections are clear signs of irregularities. These events must be taken seriously into account by election monitoring missions in their final assessment of the vote,” Internet Sans Frontières executive director Julie Owono says.
Both the opposition and ruling union have claimed victory in the elections which was marred by logistical challenges, insecurity and fake news. Observers have also criticised the widespread irregularities during the poll while telecoms minister Emery Okundji denied having knowledge about the situation.
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In Kinshasa, the internet has been blocked since December 31 and it was shut down in some key eastern cities of Goma and Lubumbashi, which are in the opposition’s grip. Internet provider, Global and telecom operator Vodacom had told AFP that they cut web access on the government’s request.
DR Congo is not the first African country to shut down its communication tools during elections. Taking a cue from Cameroon, Mali amongst others. An Internet shutdown is part of the `measures they claimed to put in place to forestall fake news and post-election crisis.
In addition, the internet had been blocked on major telecom companies like MTN Sudan, Zain Sudan, Kanartel, and Sudatel amidst crisis of protesters in major cities demonstrating against rising bread prices, rising inflation and fuel scarcity in their economy.
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Defenders of democracy are putting their say in this matter by requesting that the government gets the country’s internet working again. Government officials have said the internet embargo would last until the publication of preliminary results on Jan. 6.