Mauritius, an Indian Ocean country mired in a large-scale phone hacking scandal, blocked access to social media on Friday, November 1, just days before legislative elections scheduled for November 10. The measure was announced by the telecommunications operator Emtel, which said it had received an order from the Information and Communications Technology Authority on Thursday night to block access to all social platforms. The blockade is expected to last until November 11, the day after the election.
According to Emtel, the order refers to “illegal publications that may have an impact on national security and public safety”. This decision comes after the scandal that recently broke out, when excerpts of telephone conversations of politicians, members of civil society, diplomats and journalists were recorded and leaked on social networks. The government had no immediate comment on the ban.
“It is shocking, disgusting and unacceptable. “It’s a sign of panic.”said Paul Berenger, one of the leaders of the Alliance for Change opposition coalition. “We are dealing with people who are dangerous to the country. Lawyers work on what can be done legally. “We will act very quickly at the legal and political level.”he added.
“Regime in disorder”
“This is the last desperate act of a failed regime”said Nando Bodha, leader of the opposition group Linion Reform. “It frontally attacks the fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom of expression”he added, calling for the intervention of the Electoral Commission to ensure that the polls take place “free and fair”.
Mauritius, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, will hold legislative elections on November 10. In this election, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth’s militant Socialist Movement will seek to retain its majority in the National Assembly and give Jugnauth a new five-year term. The latter became prime minister following his father’s resignation in 2017, before securing his coalition’s victory in the 2019 legislative elections.
