Tensions rose a notch in Benin after the death of two people during the dispersal of demonstrators with live ammunition in the center of the country. A context that makes some people fear this…

Benin: tensions on the eve of the presidential election raise fears of an internet cut

On polling day for the 2019 legislative elections in Benin, the Internet was cut off in the country.

Text by: Aurore Lartigue Follow

5 mins

Tensions rose a notch in Benin after the death of two people during the dispersal of demonstrators with live ammunition in the center of the country.

A context that makes some people fear internet censorship.

During the legislative elections of 2019, the voting day was marked by a connection cut-off.

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From our special correspondent in Cotonou,

“

For the moment, it works, but we are worried about D-Day,

” explains Eskile, a young salesman in the center of Cotonou, his two cell phones in his hand.

There are rumors that say that with the crisis, they could cut to prevent the dissemination of fake news on social networks

", underlines Sidi Mohammed, driver of zem, the Beninese motorcycle taxis.

The 'shock' of 2019

On the eve of the presidential election and while two people were shot dead during an

army intervention in Savè

, in the center of the country, the fear of the blackout is slowly growing among the Beninese.

Some fear a reissue of

the cut that marked the disputed legislative elections of April 28, 2019

“

I remember, all of a sudden, we couldn't do anything, we no longer had access to Facebook or WhatsApp,” recalls Carl, who works as a private driver.
At first I thought it was just a problem in the area I was in, and then I realized it was everywhere.

"A cut in two stages, specifies Glory Cyriaque Hossou, lawyer and member of Amnesty International, who co-hosted Thursday in the economic capital a" tweetup "[a conference broadcast on social networks, editor's note] around this question.

“

In the first hours of the poll, we first noticed a restriction of access to certain social networks, then we saw a complete cut-off of the internet.

A first in the country and a "shock" for Beninese accustomed to a certain freedom of speech.

“

Normally, we should not cut, laments Marielle, a clothing saleswoman.
We need to be able to put videos and information online and let the whole world know what's going on, especially at election time.

"Human rights violation"

Nothing can justify an Internet shutdown,

insists the lawyer Glory Cyriaque Hossou, who recalls that the fight against the dissemination of false news or the preservation of national security are among the main reasons given by governments to censor the Internet and emphasizes that the process, by preventing citizens from communicating and journalists from publishing information, also leaves people "

at the mercy of rumors

The human rights activist recalls: “

Cutting the internet during an election period or not is a violation of human rights.

Since the start of the electoral campaign, Amnesty International and its partners from the Association of Bloggers of Benin and the Internet Society Benin have launched the hashtag #CoupezPasInternet online.

A campaign which "

aims to draw the attention of governments and society to the serious consequences of an Internet shutdown on the economy, education and society

", indicates the Internet Society Benin on its website.

Organizations which call on the Beninese authorities to refrain from blocking the internet before, during and after the presidential election of April 11.

"It's not on the program"

Less than 48 hours before the ballot, the internet and social networks are working well in Benin, even if the lawyer believes that certain speed problems in recent weeks could be warning signs of digital censorship.

The Netblocks organization, which identifies network alterations, has for its part not reported any dysfunction.

For Glory Cyriaque Hossou, the fears are in any case legitimate.

“

Since 2019, we have not had a clear answer from the government on what motivated the internet shutdown.
So, in the absence of explanations, one can think that it can happen again.
And we did not have any guarantees of non-repetition neither from our leaders nor from the Internet providers.

"The troubles that the country is currently experiencing can serve as a pretext for a cut," said Harold Adjaho of the Internet Society Benin.

The uncertainty is therefore maximum, but I hope that Benin will not find itself in the dark on Sunday.

Fears reinforced by recent examples on the continent, on the sidelines of elections or political tensions.

Since the start of the year, Senegal, Niger, Congo-Brazzaville and even Chad have experienced partial or total cuts to the Internet.

On the side of the authorities, we brush aside the concerns with the back of the hand.

This is not on the program,

assures the Minister of Communication Alain Orounla, contacted by RFI.

This sort of thing may happen in democracies less certain than Benin.
But we have nothing to fear

Benin: tensions on the eve of the presidential election raise fears of an internet cut

Benin: tensions on the eve of the presidential election raise fears of an internet cut

The 'shock' of 2019

"Human rights violation"

"It's not on the program"

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