By Ajibola Adedoye
The Net Rights Coalition (NRC) has called on the government of Mozambique to immediately cease internet disruptions and restore full access to the internet and social media platforms in the South-East African country.
According to the statement signed by Paradigm Initiative on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Mozambique internet service providers should henceforth disclose information concerning any government orders for internet shutdowns.
The statement reads: “We are appalled by the confirmed disruption to mobile internet traffic in Mozambique on October 25 and 26, 2024, in response to protests after the announcement of the results of the General elections held on October 9, 2024”.
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You recall that Mozambique announced the results of the General Elections on October 24, 2024, amid concerns from Observer missions of “irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling stations and district level.”
The Net Rights Coalition (NRC) said “As a network promoting digital rights in Africa, we also condemn the ongoing alleged human rights violations in the form of arbitrary mass arrests, detentions, extra-judicial killings and the
confirmed shutdown of access to the internet by three mobile networks Vodacom Mozambique, Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique, and Viettel Group.
“This regrettable move is yet another instance of Mozambique restricting internet access during critical national events, undermining fundamental rights to information and expression. The Londa 2023 Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa report documents that in 2023, the primary internet providers in Mozambique, most notably Movitel, which is the service provider most frequently utilised in rural and northern
areas, went off on October 11, 2023, right before the country’s municipal elections were about to end.
“The empowering nature of the internet should never be seen as a threat but as an enabling tool for fundamental rights to thrive. As entrenched in the international human rights instruments
which the Mozambican government is a party to, and most importantly, the Mozambican Constitution.
“Article 48 of the Constitution states that “All citizens have the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, as well as the right to information.” However, despite freedom of expression being entrenched in the Mozambican Constitution, these rights are currently imperilled by the government’s disruption of internet services.
“The NRC also reminds the Mozambican government of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights (ACHPR), which guarantees the protection of these fundamental human rights.
“We also remind the government of Mozambique of Principle 38 (2) of the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which states that States shall not engage in or condone any disruption of
access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.
“This blatant violation of human rights is not justifiable or compatible with international human rights laws and standards. Furthermore, we advise all Internet Service Providers in Mozambique of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which outline the corporate responsibility of businesses to respect human rights.
“In this light, disclosing any government orders to shut down the Internet shows responsibility and commitment to human rights” the statement concluded.
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