WORLD NEWS: MOBILE INTERNET CUT AFTER MAURITANIA PRESIDENTIAL POLL

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

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Since Monday night, AFP journalists have been unable to use mobile internet in the capital of Mauritania due to altercations that started after it was declared that incumbent Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani had won the presidential election.

On Monday evening, hours after the final provisional results of Saturday’s presidential election showed that Ghazouani had easily won reelection, witnesses reported disruptions in Nouakchott’s working-class neighborhoods.

The witnesses did not tell the AFP how severe the disease was.

Tuesday seemed to be a peaceful day in Nouakchott, with shops operating as usual.

On the outages of mobile internet, the authorities have not responded.

Governments all across the world now frequently use internet bans as a ploy to quell protests.

Second-place candidate, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, on Monday denounced “massive fraud” and threatened peaceful street demonstrations.

Abeid said he was waiting for his own teams to provide election results before taking a “final decision”.

Following the 2019 election that saw Ghazouani take office, there were skirmishes and the detention of opponents and citizens of neighboring countries who were allegedly involved in protests.

There was also a 10-day internet blackout in conjunction with it.