Rights group under the aegis DigiCivic Initiative has condemned in strong terms the ongoing internet shutdown in Senegal.

The group in a Press statement made available to BarristerNG on Monday described the Internet Shutdown In Senegal as Unconstitutional And A Violation Of The Right To Freedom Of Expression.

Part of the Statement reads “ADVOCATES FOR THE PROMOTION OF DIGITAL RIGHTS AND CIVIC INTERACTIONS INITIATIVE (DigiCivic Initiative) condemns in strong terms the ongoing internet shutdown in Senegal which commenced on the 1^st day of June 2023. It is quite disheartening that Senegalese Government has taken the route of shutting down the internet under the guise of security concerns.

“Senegal was considered by media advocates, especially lawyers who have prosecuted cases before the regional ECOWAS Community Court, as one of the most liberal societies in West Africa. It was used as a safe haven for Journalists who were running from the totalitarian authority of Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia. Yahya was known to annihilate oppositions and members of the media who didn’t sing his praise and resorted to ethical journalism to expose his undemocratic rule in The Gambia. Senegal was that place Journalists and the media found succour.

“We are sad that Senegal has chosen to follow the steps of countries like Cameroon, Togo and Tanzania to shutdown the Internet! We understand that as Senegal is a country in West Africa and a member state of the ECOWAS Commission, It is bound by the decision of the ECOWAS Court, held unequivocally in the Amnesty International & Ors. Vs. The Republic of Togo, a case prosecuted by our Executive Director, Mojirayo Ogunlana O.  ‘That internet shutdowns violate the free expression rights of both journalists and civil society organizations in conducting their work and that the access to the Internet is a derivative right of the right to freedom of expression.

“We have joined a coalition of civil society organizations in Africa to sign a statement condemning this abysmal act in the 21st century and hope that the Senegalese government will retrace its steps, lift the shutdown, restore full and unrestricted internet access to its citizens because this amounts to an outright violation of the right to freedom of expression of the people of Senegal.

“We therefore call upon the Senegal government to lift this shutdown immediately and allow the citizens of Senegal enjoy their right to freedom of expression as guaranteed, not only by the Senegalese Constitution, but also by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other international instruments obligating the Senegal to respect, protect and fulfill the right to freedom of expression.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Senegal and the global community in advocating against internet shutdowns and we demand for the immediate restoration of internet access in Senegal.”