Mozambican civil society files complaint seeking redress for internet shutdown

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambican civil society files complaint seeking redress for internet shutdown

8:58 CAT | 19 Dec 2024

Antena-telecomunicacoes-1-1000x600-1-1-1

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Integrity Magazine]

Three Mozambican civil society organizations submitted a complaint on Wednesday 18th, seeking accountability and reparations from telecommunications operators for the recent internet shutdown during post-election protests.

“Through this main action, the civil society organizations aim to ensure the effective accountability of those involved, demand compensation for the damages caused, and prevent the recurrence of practices that violate human rights and democratic principles,” reads a statement from the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) released today, announcing the legal proceedings.

This joint action involves the CDD, the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), and the Civil Society Learning and Capacity Building Center (CESC). In November, these organizations had already filed a precautionary measure against operators Movitel, Vodacom, and the state-owned Mozambique Telecom (Tmcel) following internet access restrictions. The court ruled in their favor in early December. According to the CDD, this lawsuit will be accompanied by other actions to “ensure the accountability of operators before the National Communications Institute of Mozambique,” the country’s telecommunications regulator.

In November, Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communications admitted that internet restrictions, particularly on social media, were implemented by the operators themselves to prevent the network from being used to “destroy” the country in the context of post-election protests.

“Certainly, they [the operators] took measures to ensure that the Internet remains a collective good, not a tool misused to destroy our country,” Minister Mateus Magala stated.

At least 130 people have died in post-election protests in Mozambique since October 21, according to the Electoral Platform Decide, which monitors electoral processes in Mozambique. The platform also reported 385 people shot during these incidents.

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane remarked on Monday that the proclamation of general election results by the Constitutional Council, expected on December 23, would determine whether Mozambique “moves toward peace or chaos.”

The results of the October 9 elections announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) declared Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the winner with 70.67% of the votes. However, these results still need validation by the Constitutional Council, the final arbiter of electoral disputes, by December 23.

Source: Lusa