Presidential Poll Delay: Senegal Cuts Internet Access As Citizens Protest

Following protests against Senegalese President Macky Sall over his decision to postpone the presidential election, mobile internet in the country has been temporarily cut by the government.

Osun Defender reports that Sall had on Saturday announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election, which was originally set to take place on February 25, just hours before official campaigning was due to start.

The hashtag #FreeSenegal is currently trending on X.

The move according to the government was to prevent the dissemination of “hateful and subversive messages relayed on social networks in a context of threats of disturbances to public order.”

According to the BBC report, this was disclosed by Communication Minister Moussa Bocar Thiam.

Several dozen protesters could be heard chanting “Macky Sall dictator” outside the parliament on Monday, referring to the incumbent president, after being scattered by security forces, as reported by the AFP.

Former Prime Minister and opposition candidate, Aminata Touré, according to BBC, announced on social media that she had been released after being arrested during Sunday’s protest.

“Let us all mobilise to defend our democracy. No to the postponement of the presidential election,” she said in an online post.

Another opposition candidate, Daouda Ndiaye, also claimed he was attacked by police.

He shared on social media that he had been hospitalised but stressed the importance of holding an election on February 25.