Senegal suspends TikTok for ‘threatening national stability’

Senegal has suspended access to the social media app TikTok until further notice. Reuters reports that the country’s communications minister made this announcement on Wednesday, days after restricting mobile internet use amid opposition protests.

“The minister informs the public that it has been observed that the TikTok application is the social network favoured by people with bad intentions to spread hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country,” the minister’s statement said.

Recall that the Senegalese government had also restricted access to internet services on Monday, citing the need to curb the spread of hateful messages on social media. The restrictions come after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was charged with plotting an insurrection, criminal conspiracy and other offences.

Senegal has seen sporadic violent protests throughout the year, as opposition supporters have accused President Macky Sall of levelling charges against Sonko to disqualify him from the next election.

Read also: #FreeSenegal: ‘Our people are literally suffering!’ due to intermittent internet shutdowns

Civil unrest in Senegal continues

In case you missed it, two months ago, a violent protest erupted in Senegal following the 2-year sentence handed to Ousmane Sonko. The protest, which also led to the death of 9 persons, prompted the restriction of social media by the authorities. 

At the time, Netblocks, a worldwide internet monitor, confirmed that access to platforms including Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Telegram had been limited. Technext later confirmed that the restrictions did not only to social media. Instead, it was extended to the internet connectivity of citizens, as confirmed by the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy. The statement read;

The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy informs that due to the dissemination of hateful and subversive messages in a context of disturbance of public order in certain localities of the national territory, the Internet of mobile data is temporarily suspended during certain time slots. Telephone operators are required to comply with notified requisitions.The Minister said in a Communique

But, after relaxing the restriction, the government shut down internet access for the nation again on Monday and blamed it on the propagation of hateful messages, which were critical of the current administration.

With the current ban on the popular short-video platform, it seems the political crisis and civil unrest might not be going away anytime soon.

Read also: Nigeria ranked as Africa’s second most cyber-secure country after Senegal