Mauritanian authorities have restored access to the internet after disrupting it for 10 days following the disputed presidential elections of June 23.
The Ministry of the Interior reportedly ordered the shutdown for security reasons, although activists and human rights groups believe the real aim was to prevent the opposition from mobilizing protesters.
The government first disrupted access to mobile internet around mid-day local time on June 23, according to the Media Foundation for West Africa. Forty-eight hours later, they also disrupted access to fixed line connections.
The disruptions affected all three of Mauritania’s internet service providers: Mauritel, Chinguitel and Mattel. The companies did not provide a reason for the disruptions nor did they notify their users before they took place.
It also disrupted the capabilities of opposition leaders from organizing and mobilising protesters, in a country where only 21 percent of its 4 million people have an internet connection.
It’s reportedly isolated Mauritanians from the rest of the world — particularly human rights defenders, opposition leaders, and journalists, greatly limiting their ability to access information and publish information about the government's crackdown on protesters, journalists and the political opposition.
The June 23 election, however saw to the victory of Government-backed candidate, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who garnered 52 percent of the vote, but widespread allegations of fraud have marred the election.
Three opposition candidates, including anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, who came third with 18 percent of the votes, challenged the results before the Constitutional Council.
And a small protest disputing the results took place in the capital, Nouakchott.
On Monday, July 1, the council dismissed the opposition’s appeal, confirming Ould Ghazouani as the country’s next president on the basis of insufficient evidence for the opposition’s allegations of fraud.
The government, however, continues to restrict press freedom and freedom of expression as part of its post-election crackdown.
