Late Sunday, March 5, four prisoners escaped from a central prison in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, killing two soldiers in the process.
Late on March 5, four prisoners escaped from the central prison in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, killing two soldiers in the process. Authorities described the captive as a jihadist terrorist.
The next day, internet connectivity was cut for customers of all three major mobile providers – Mattel, Chinguitel and Moov Mauritel – apparently to prevent people escaping communication.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know,” recalls Abdou Biye, a comedian and online content creator. A week later, the government said three escapees had been killed and a fourth had been recaptured. On March 13, internet connectivity was restored.
Local journalist Aliya Abass said the internet shutdown made her work harder than usual. “We don’t have access to information, and even if we do have information, we have no way to verify it,” he said. Continent.
Journalists are not the only ones struggling for work. Mauritania relies heavily on mobile connectivity for day-to-day business. “For a population that is largely a trader, the cost must be enormous,” Abass said. On the first day of the shutdown, hundreds of people queued up in front of shops selling routers in Nouakchott, as land access was not affected.
The government justifies shutting down the internet by saying “security comes first”.
National security is one of the most frequently cited justifications for internet disruptions around the world – although human rights organizations are skeptical.
“Mauritania is a serial perpetrator of internet shutdowns,” explained Kassem Mnejja, regional campaigner for Access Now, a global organization that aims to protect digital human rights. In June 2019, a near-total shutdown was imposed following a contested presidential election. The Internet is also routinely blocked during national exams.
Around the world, governments are increasingly turning off the internet – usually during times of political stress. Last year, Access Now recorded more shutdowns than ever before, with 187 in 35 countries.
This article first appeared on Continenta pan-African weekly newspaper produced in partnership with Mail & Guardians. It is designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp. Your download free copy here.