The Platform Question: Power, Accountability and Global South In recent years, several countries have blocked access to the internet especially during times of public protest, in many instances stating the move as a means to maintain public order or to ensure national security. However, an undercurrent has been emerging which points to a power dynamic between platforms and the state when it comes to internet shutdowns which points to the tension on who gets to manage the flow of information and online narratives. 136 In both instances, access to digital communication was interrupted. In Kenya, reports emerged of an internet shutdown or the throttling of internet access speeds by nearly 40 per cent (Opanda, 2025) across major networks. In May 2025, the Kenya High Court ordered the government, the Communications Authority of Kenya and relevant stakeholders not to shut down the internet. In the case of Nigeria, while the internet remained accessible, in the months that followed, the government would ban Twitter for what it termed as “double standards” and threats to “Nigeria’s corporate existence” (Conroy-Krutz, 2021). Additional allegations were that the platform supported the #EndSARS movement against police brutality. However, the decision to suspend Twitter in the country followed a decision by the platform to delete a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari in which he appeared to threaten violent retaliation against a southeastern secessionist group following attacks on government facilities and personnel (Asadu, 2021). Twitter argued the message had violated its rules against abusive behaviour. For both governments, it was exceedingly clear the role that social media platforms play in assembly, organizing and in challenging the ruling establishment. However, the recurring pattern of network disruptions in Africa continues to be an area of concern. In recent years, several countries have blocked access to the internet especially during times of public protest, in many instances stating the move as a means to maintain public order or to ensure national security. However, an undercurrent has been emerging which points to a power dynamic between platforms and the state when it comes to internet shutdowns which points to the tension on who gets to manage the flow of information and online narratives. Ultimately, the tension emerges on who has the higher power in managing online narratives. Instances of disruptions linked to elections or political unrest include the case of Senegal where President Macky Sall, throughout his 12-year tenure had been accused of significantly diminishing political opposition and shrinking press freedoms. In 2024, Sall attempted to have the two-term limit for presidents subverted by adjusting the constitution. Further, the electoral code was also changed to make it more difficult for opposition actors to compete in the elections. Meanwhile, an announcement to shift the elections from February 2024 to later in the year was also made. These moves resulted in Democracy Caught in A Power Struggle Between Platforms and Politics The Platform Question: Power, Accountability and Global South discontent within the populace which was mirrored in online narratives. Consequently, in February 2024, the country faced two notable disruptions to digital communication when on February 4, 2024 the internet was shutdown before being restore a few days later, and on February 13, 2024 mobile internet access was blocked (Dione, 2024) ahead of a banned march against the postponement of the presidential election. However, in 2023, on June 1, digital access monitor, NetBlocks noted restrictions to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram and other social media platforms in the Senegal. The restriction later expanded to affect mobile data from June 4, 2023 and a curfew style of access was put in place for three days (2023). A month later in August 2023, Senegalese authorities suspended access to TikTok claiming that the platform was being used to disseminate falsehoods, with the Minister of Communications and the Digital Economy, Moussa Bocar Thiam, stating that, “the TikTok application is the social network of choice for ill-intentioned people to spread hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country,” the various incidents of shutdowns were associated with political decisions including the arrest of key opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Senegal would eventually go on to hold its elections in March 2024, and would see Maky Sall ineligible to stand for another term. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, running in place of Ousmane Sonko, was consequently elected as president. Internet access remained accessible during this time. It was a marked as a win for democracy and digital civic participation in the country. In May 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice would also issue a landmark judgment in the case ‘Association of Information and Communication Technology Users (ASUTIC) and Ndiaga Gueye against Republic of Senegal’, declaring that Senegal’s internet and social media shutdowns in 2023 were clear violations of fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, right to access information, right to assembly and the right to work (Toussi, 2025). This ruling built on an earlier ruling by ECOWAS in 2020 which condemned internet shutdowns during anti-government protests and ordered Togo to pay a fine which is a decision which many assumed would have far-reaching implications for Francophone Africa, where digital repression has been steadily increasing (Toussi, 2025). The various incidents of shutdowns were associated with political decisions including the arrest of key opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Democracy Caught in A Power Struggle Between Platforms and Politics 137