According to internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks, Sierra Leone and Somaliland experienced significant internet service disruptions recently. On Wednesday last week, national connectivity was observed at just 5% of regular levels in Sierra Leone. Somaliland experienced significant disruptions across multiple providers from the early morning of Thursday.
According to cyber security company Surfshark, both incidents happened during protests, making Sierra Leone and Somaliland Africa’s 19th and 20th states to restrict the internet for that reason.
Internet access is vital in times of unrest, and these disruptions mark an unfortunate decline in the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Metrics show that the internet incident in Sierra Leone has had nationwide impact and is likely to significantly limit the free flow of information,” – says Alp Toker, the director and founder of NetBlocks.
The disruptions in Sierra Leone came into effect across multiple providers on the morning of August 10 and lasted approximately two hours, and occurred again overnight as authorities imposed a curfew on residents.
National connectivity was observed at just 5% of ordinary levels, impacting most internet users in Sierra Leone and limiting coverage of protests and clashes between the police and protesters in the capital city of Freetown and other areas. The next morning, multiple providers in Somaliland experienced major disruptions to internet services.
The disruptions came as protesters clashed over the postponed elections, making Somaliland the 4th African and 8th state worldwide to restrict internet access this year. Restricting social media or overall internet access is common in African countries, especially during political events – elections, protests, or demonstrations.
Source: IOL
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