By Ken Afor
Crisis may erupt in Senegal following Tuesday’s ban on mobile internet access by the country’s communications ministry as security forces dispersed protesters who took to the streets to voice their displeasure over the postponement of February’s presidential election.
The ban on Tuesday would be the second time this month.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Energy, the ban was initiated following inciting social media posts that have sparked violent demonstrations in some parts of the west African country.
“Due to the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages that have already provoked violent demonstrations, mobile data is suspended this Tuesday, February 13,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Since the announcement of the postponement of the February 25 presidential poll until December by President Macky Sall, the country has been civil unrest, with three persons reportedly dying following violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
It would be recalled that on February 3, President Sall, in a state address, announced the postponement of the poll.
Prior to the decision, key figures in the opposition parties, including Ousmane Sonko of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity (Africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternity) (PASTEF), and Karim Wade, were disqualified from contesting in the scheduled poll, which has been postponed.
Reports indicated that Wade was disqualified following allegations of dual French citizenship, which he denied, describing it as “scandalous.”
Similarly, a female presidential candidate, Rose Wardini, was detained following accusations by the authorities of her concealing her French citizenship.
According to President Sall, “These troubled conditions could seriously undermine the credibility of the ballot by sowing the seeds of pre- and post-electoral disputes,” Sall said in his address.
He said efforts were underway to implement measures for a free and inclusive election.
“I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election,” President Sall added.
Despite the West African country’s longstanding stable democracy, the delayed poll, which would be the first time since Senegal’s independence in 1960, could potentially spark instability in the country’s political landscape if not handled with caution.
