Internet Shutdown in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Putting Democracy in Reverse Gear?

On the 30^th of December 2018, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) jubilantly went to the polls to exercise their franchise after close to two years of painful waiting . The waiting was due to the absence of requisite funding to hold elections in 2016. Joseph Kabila’s tenure expired in November 2016, but his government failed to make adequate financial provisions for the conduct of election. The country was supposedly unable to raise up to $ 1.8 billion needed for the electoral umpire-CENI to organize free, fair and credible general elections. This act remains epic in the unfinished trials and tribulations of liberal democracy in contemporary Africa.

While the Congolese and by extension the world, are waiting patiently for the announcement of the results of the December 30^th, 2018 general elections in DRC, the incumbent government has shut down all internet access in the country. Citizens and non-citizens alike are cut-off from the world. People whose means of livelihood depend upon internet enabled platforms continue to bear the painful brunt of this authoritarian decision.

Government main argument for shutting down all internet connectivity is based on national security . They claim that certain fictitious results were trickling down from unauthorised fake media sources and were circulating rapidly on the internet and social media. This, they claim, was capable of causing violence and throwing the entire country into chaos.

The impact of the government shutdown of internet services and social media platforms in DRC are legion. This piece, from a civil society lens, illuminates the consequences of this uncivil act and presents recommendations that must urgently be implemented to stunt this ugly development.

It is imperative and germane to note from the onset that the essence of democracy is freedom of expression. Any strategy that tends to undermine the people’s chances of freely expressing themselves in whatever form is at variance with the spirit of liberal democracy. Government officials in the DRC must understand that under any democratic setting, sovereignty lies with the people. Forcefully shutting down internet and social media platforms which are major means of communication and citizens engagements constitute an albatross to democratic engineering.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in the DRC have been largely constrained by the shutting down of internet services. Most CSOs cannot effectively and efficiently function without internet services. They rely on internet to communicate with donors, relate with their host communities and engage with members of the public whom they serve. Besides, most CSOs in DRC need internet services to report, upload videos, pictures and articles on their programmatic areas which might include the recent concluded elections.

In fact, some of the local, national and international CSOs that actively participated in the election as observers need internet services to effectively disseminate their reports. In this twenty first century, most human activities are carried out online and one wonders why over 80 million people should be denied internet services for many days because of election results. In a supposedly democratic republic, this singularly act is repugnant and nebulous and thought leaders and international community must call the Kabila government to order to immediately restore internet access.

Besides, the economic cost of internet shutdown in DRC cannot be overemphasized. The aphorism that the world is a global village is indisputable. Many Congolese today, depend on the internet services to receive and send money online, buy and sell goods and services online and even communicate with loved ones from within and outside DRC. Since the shutdown of internet services, online businesses have been halted. According to a CNN’s James Griffith recent report on the cost of the internet shutdown, estimates a day’s [internet] outage in Congo alone can cause losses of more than $3 million.

DRC is lamentably rich but poor. Despite rich mineral resources, it is a home to many poor people. The 2018 United Nation’s Human Development Report , DRC ranked 176^th on the Human Development Index (HDI). What is more, more than 80 per cent of Congolese live on less than $1 per day. Hence three million dollars is a huge amount of money which will continue to elude the country for as long as the internet services remain shut down.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, messengers, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and others are good avenues for socio-cultural interactions between family members, friends and organizations. This is even more important during an election and festive periods like New Year celebrations. By shutting down internet and social media platforms, President Joseph Kabila’s government has hindered many families and friends from freely interacting with loved ones and assuring each other of their safety during the post-election period. This is uncalled for at this moment. Therefore, religious leaders must join other stakeholders to demand the immediate restoration of internet services in all parts of DRC.

Furthermore, the African Union working in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations and civil society organizations should rise and openly condemn this open assault on democracy especially on people’s freedom of expression in DRC. Efforts must be intensified by CSOs to form viable coalitions and networks to demand justice for the Congolese. In fact, other world leaders and countries must follow the path of the United States of America and European Union by issuing public statements on the need for the respect of the people’s choice.

Regina Akosua Baiden, A Feminist, Policy Advocate and Development Practitioner Writes from Accra, Ghana.