Gabon is the latest African country to shut down the internet as post-election tensions grow in the country. Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Chad andRepublic of Congo are all examples of countries that blocked internet services during recent polls. Ghana\u2019s police chief was also\u00a0sharply criticized earlier this year for suggesting that social media platforms be blocked during the upcoming general election in December.<\/p>\n
Gabon\u2019s results were released late on Aug. 31 night, a day late, prompting clashes. Ping\u2019s headquarters were bombed, and protestors broke down the national assembly\u2019s gate and set it on fire. At least two people were killed according to the opposition, and police arrested at least 1,000 people during the unrest.<\/p>\n
The president\u2019s office has since accused Ping of coordinating and planning the clashes, and asked him \u201cto call off his thugs and stop vandalizing the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press on Thursday (Sept. 1), Bongo reiterated his distress about the election riots. \u201cDemocracy doesn\u2019t sit well with self-proclaimed victory, with groups formed to cause destruction,\u201d he said. \u201cDemocracy is not compatible with an attack on [the building] of national TV and on parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the internet shutdown, Bongo and Ping were both able to use social media platforms on Sept. 1 to call for unity, upholding the rule of law, and to pray for those who were killed, injured or jailed during the clashes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The government of Gabon shut down the internet on Wednesday (Aug. 31) following the announcement president Ali Bongo was re-elected by a slim margin for a second seven-year term in office. The move showcased the tensions already gripping the country, with the capital Libreville experiencing a night of violent clashes, looting and arrests, while the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":245254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n