Internet Without Borders Firmly Condemns the Recent Internet Shutdown in the DRC

Paris, Feb. 26, 2018 : Internet Without Borders strongly condemns the unlawful internet and SMS blackout, which took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, Feb.25, 2018, from roughly 9 am to 7 pm. This new case is added to the long list of online censorship events ordered by the Congolese Government, including the SMS and Internet shutdown during the Jan. 20, 2018 protest.

Fearing the recurrence of human rights’ violation, Internet Without Borders and a dozen of International NGOs, including Access Now, Reporters Sans Frontières, and the Digital Rights Foundation, sent an open letter to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Telecommunications of the DRC, urging the government not to shut down telecommunications. On February 24, 2018, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Emery Okundji Ndjovu‏, publicly stated that there would be no internet shutdown during the weekend. It was a “false alarm” and a “crazy rumor”, he explained in a tweet.

#RDC Fausse alerte sur la coupure d’internet.
Le ministre Emery-Okundji dément catégoriquement la folle rumeur qui a circulé hier sur les réseaux sociaux faisant état de la coupure d’internet ce samedi 24.02.2018 à partir de 22 heures.
Conseiller en communication Felly kalamba pic.twitter.com/mC9nNdXCD9

— Emery Okundji Ndjovu (@EmeryOkundji) 24 février 2018

“We strongly condemn this new case of Internet censorship by the DRC government. To order an internet shutdown in times of social and political crisis is a clear desire to deprive citizens of their constitutional right to freedom of expression,” said Abdelkerim Yacoub Koundougoumi, Head of the Central African division of Internet Without Borders.

“The Congolese government should know that in the 21st century, the internet has become an indispensable tool for life. Accordingly, it should not be shut down during public protests. It should rather be available for both the state and the civil society in order to promote transparency and protect democracy,” said Blaise Ndola, Africtivist (co-signer of the open letter), Digital Communications Consultant and Coordinator of the blogging community of Goma.

Internet Without Borders is utterly shocked by the Government’s empty promise. Internet Without Borders calls on the government to urgently respect its international commitments to democratic principles and human rights.

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For more information:
Contact Abdelkerim Yacoub Koundougoumi
+33 06 47 92 52 73
abdelkerimyacoub@gmail.com