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Protesters think
the census plan is a ploy to extend Mr. Kabila's rule/BBC
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New York, January 22, 2015- Authorities
in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday shut down Internet access and
SMS service for mobile phones throughout the country after nationwide
demonstrations led to deadly clashes with police, according to news reports .
Internet and mobile phone service
providers, including major companies like Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, and Orange,
saidCongolese officials told them on Monday they had until midnight to suspend
Internet access and SMS services throughout the country, according to news reports. Vodacom, one
of the country's largest service providers, said all of the companies had
complied, according to news reports.
Internet service was partially restored today,
but SMS service remains suspended and social media sites remained blocked,
according to news reports.
A Congolese official told The Wall Street Journal
that the shutdown order was permitted under the country's
telecommunication's law and that the measure would help prevent more
protests.
"By shutting down Internet and
messaging services and blocking websites, Congolese authorities are denying
citizens their fundamental right to communicate and to receive and impart
information," said CPJ's Africa Program Coordinator, Sue Valentine.
"We call on President Joseph Kabila's government to restore all
communications channels and ensure that journalists can cover public
demonstrations safely."
Protesters around the country this week
demonstrated against a proposed amendment to electoral laws by President Joseph
Kabila, which would allow him to run for a third term. President Kabila has
been in power since January 2001.
Under the Congolese constitution, a president
may serve no more than two terms. The
amendment was passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday. The Senate
today delayed its vote, according to news reports.
Authorities fired shots and deployed
tear gas on protesters and have arrested hundreds, according to news reports. Reports
conflicted on the number of deaths, with some citing authorities as
saying five had been killed, including two police officers. Other reports said as many as 42 had been
killed in the clashes.
Some Twitter users, including a reporter for the BBC, posted on Twitter on Wednesday saying that Radio France Internationale had been blocked in the country. CPJ could not independently confirm the blocking. RFI did not immediately respond to CPJ's requests for comment by phone and over social media.
In November, authorities in the
Democratic Republic of Congo called for the shutdown of
several radio stations, accusing many of incitement. CPJ has called for
authorities to determine the motive in the December killing of state
radio reporter Robert Chamwami Shalubuto in North Kivu province. No one has
been brought to justice in the murder.
CPJ is an independent, nonprofit
organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
Media contacts:
Sue Valentine
Africa Program
Coordinator
Peter Nkanga
West Africa
Representative
Email: pnkanga@cpj.org
Tom Rhodes
East Africa
Representative
Email: trhodes@cpj.org
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