As tensions mount in Senegal, the government has taken the drastic step of cutting mobile internet access, a move that comes amidst growing protests over President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the February 25 presidential election. The country, known for its stable democratic processes, is now at a crossroads, with opposition leaders and their supporters calling the postponement a “constitutional coup.”
The debate in the federal legislature over a bill that could extend President Sall’s tenure by up to six months — pushing the election to August, well past the end of his current term — has further inflamed the situation. This unprecedented decision to delay Senegal’s presidential election, a first in the nation’s history, has sparked protests expected to intensify in the coming days.
DAKAR, SENEGAL – FEBRUARY 4: Supporters of opposition presidential candidates set tires and tables on fire as they gather at the Saint-Lazare intersection to continue their campaign following the indefinite postponement of Senegal’s Feb. 25 presidential election in Dakar, Senegal on February 4, 2024. ( Cem Özdel – Anadolu Agency )
The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy justified the internet restriction as necessary to halt the spread of “several hateful and subversive messages” that were being circulated on social media, posing threats and disturbances to public order. This action has not only curtailed the flow of information but also raised significant concerns about freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.
President Sall cited an electoral dispute, involving disagreements between the judiciary and parliament over disqualified candidates and issues surrounding the dual nationality of some contenders, as the reason for the election’s postponement. This political tension has been brewing for over a year, marked by deadly clashes among opposition supporters and the disqualification of key opposition figures by the country’s highest election authority for failing to meet election requirements.
Senegalese gendarmes patrol a road during demonstrations called by opposition parties in Dakar. (John Wessels/AFP)
The decision to cut internet access recalls a similar incident in June last year when mobile internet was restricted during clashes between security forces and supporters of disqualified opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. This pattern of internet shutdowns amidst political crises poses a grave concern for democracy in Senegal and the broader West African region, already reeling from a surge in coups and threats to democratic institutions.
