INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN 2023 Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, and Sierra Leone made and upheld commitments to maintain internet access throughout their elections — a matter of great significance given election-related shutdowns’ devastating impact on democracy.88 We also saw encouraging developments in the legal battle against election shutdowns in Africa. In 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice continued to build its jurisprudence against internet shutdowns in a ruling declaring that Guinea’s shutdowns during a constitutional referendum and general election in 2020 were unlawful.89 Shutdowns during protests, political turmoil, and instability The region was hit hard by widespread protests against economic hardship, deteriorating democratic tenets, and political instability in 2023. In response to these protests and political turmoil, authorities shut down the internet 10 times — making protests the leading trigger in Africa for the third consecutive year. Plagued by numerous protests and political instability, authorities in Senegal disrupted internet access or blocked platforms on four occasions. After protests erupted in Dakar and Ziguinchor on June 1 following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, 25 authorities blocked social media platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.90 Three days later, authorities extended the shutdown to include mobile internet access.91 Sonko was subsequently arrested again on July 28, 2023. When protests broke out once more in response, authorities reached for the kill switch, cutting mobile internet access and blocking TikTok.92 Although authorities restored mobile internet access on August 5, they continued to block TikTok without explanation until February 2024.93 The Senegalese government attempted to justify the shutdowns as necessary to prevent the spread of “hateful and subversive messages,” blaming digital platforms for the riots.94 The government had previously imposed shutdowns to quell protests after Sonko was initially incarcerated in 2021.95 This pattern of repeated internet disruptions to silence government critics, together with journalist arrests and former President Macky Sall’s push for new legislation to tighten control over social media platforms, is a warning sign of descent into digital authoritarianism.96 With a new administration taking over after a fraught election cycle in February and March 2024, we hope to see Senegal authorities pledge to #KeepItOn.97 The press freedom and human rights situation in Guinea has deteriorated drastically since the military junta overthrew the Alpha Conde government in 2021.98 In May 2023, the military responded to 88 Supra note 13. 89 Media Defence (2023). ECOWAS Court condemns internet shutdown in Guinea. https://www.mediadefence.org/news/ ecowas-court-condemns-internet-shutdown-in-guinea/ 90 Technext (2023). Senegal limits social media access following protests over sentencing of opposition leader. https:// technext24.com/2023/06/03/sonko-senegal-social-media/ 91 Reuters (2023). Senegal government cuts mobile internet access amid deadly rioting. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ senegal-government-cuts-mobile-internet-access-amid-deadly-rioting-2023-06-04/ 92 Reuters (2023). Senegal blocks TikTok in widening clampdown on dissent. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegalsuspends-tiktok-saying-it-was-threatening-stability-2023-08-02/ 93 Access Now (2023). Stop the internet shutdowns: Senegal authorities must end censorship. https://www.accessnow.org/ press-release/internet-shutdowns-senegal/; Africanews (2023). Senegal declines to lift TikTok ban. https://www.africanews. com/2023/10/06/senegal-declines-to-lift-tiktok-ban/ 94 News24 (2023). Senegal shuts down internet as riots erupt after opposition leader sentenced for sex crime. https://www. news24.com/news24/africa/news/senegal-shuts-down-internet-as-riots-erupt-after-opposition-leader-sentenced-for-sexcrime-20230602/ 95 Bloomberg (2021). Senegal Shuts Down TV Stations, Internet Disrupted Amid Protests. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/ articles/2021-03-05/senegal-shuts-down-tv-stations-internet-disrupted-amid-protests/ 96 The Africa Report (2021). Senegal’s president joins the chorus against Twitter and Facebook. https://www.theafricareport.com/99491/senegals-president-joins-the-chorus-against-twitter-and-facebook/; Media Foundation for West Africa (2024). Senegal: Six journalists arrested over Minister’s defamation complaint. https://www. mfwa.org/issues-in-focus/senegal-six-journalists-arrested-over-ministers-defamation-complaint/ 97 Al Jazeera (2024). Senegal's top court confirms Bassirou Diomaye Faye's election victory. https://www.aljazeera.com/ news/2024/3/29/senegals-top-court-confirms-bassirou-diomaye-fayes-election-victory/ 98 Reporters Without Borders (2023). Unprecedented press freedom violations by Guinea military junta. https://rsf.org/en/ unprecedented-press-freedom-violations-guinea-s-military-junta/