13 November 2024

Mozambique has joined a list of African countries that have used internet censorship to address political problems.

This is reportedly the first time Mozambique’s government has tampered with the internet and the measure has been strongly critiqued by the media and human rights organisations. According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Mozambique), Internet Outage Detection and Analysis verified that internet speed in Mozambique was reduced, particularly on Friday.

“After violating freedom of the press and expression through police violence, the government is once again violating freedom of expression by limiting citizens from circulating and exchanging information through digital platforms, as well as limiting business operations and social life, on a day when many Mozambicans are carrying out their activities remotely due to violence in the streets,” said MISA in a statement.

Protests erupted in the Southern African country after Daniel Chapo, of the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, was declared the winner of the October 9 election. His opponents allege the results, which gave him 71% of the vote, were inflated.