National shutdown
Internet, SMS
DR Congo
The UN cited reports that the shutdown prevented electoral observers and witnesses in rural polling stations from communicating with local centres where results were being compiled, and made it difficult for the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to reach its field partners, including those offering protection to vulnerable civilians. Local media outlets had to temporarily relocate their staff to Brazzavile, the capital of neighboring Republic of Congo, and to Rwanda to be able to access the Internet and report without restrictions. The shutdown also encouraged the smuggling of contraband mobile phone SIM cards, sold at an inflated price, from the Republic of Congo, whose network coverage extend to nearby areas across the border. Local consumer rights group, the Consumers Union of Congo, filed a complaint against mobile service providers Vodacom, Orange, Airtel and Africell over the shutdown to the Kinshasa Commercial Court. The group claims that operators unilaterally broke their service contract with their subscribers by cutting their access to the Internet.
- Total Duration 34 days
Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)
- Population
- 105,789,731
- UN Classification
-
- Least Developed Country
View full country profile for Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)
Local impact
The UN cited reports that the shutdown prevented electoral observers and witnesses in rural polling stations from communicating with local centres where results were being compiled, and made it difficult for the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to reach its field partners, including those offering protection to vulnerable civilians. Local media outlets had to temporarily relocate their staff to Brazzavile, the capital of neighboring Republic of Congo, and to Rwanda to be able to access the Internet and report without restrictions. The shutdown also encouraged the smuggling of contraband mobile phone SIM cards, sold at an inflated price, from the Republic of Congo, whose network coverage extend to nearby areas across the border. Local consumer rights group, the Consumers Union of Congo, filed a complaint against mobile service providers Vodacom, Orange, Airtel and Africell over the shutdown to the Kinshasa Commercial Court. The group claims that operators unilaterally broke their service contract with their subscribers by cutting their access to the Internet.
Other supporting information
Access to the Internet and several social media platforms was cut after exit polls began circulating following the country’s general elections on December 30. Telecoms operator Vodacom and Internet service provider Global confirmed that the government ordered the shutdown. A senior government official was quoted as saying that authorities cut Internet and SMS services to preserve public order after “fictitious results” began circulating on social media, adding that these would be restored after the preliminary results are released. The shutdown lasted for 20 days, until the country’s Constitutional Court confirmed the election results.
Social media
The people of #DRC have suffered more than enough! Let's show them we have their backs. We demand the government must restore internet and SMS, stop cracking down on protests, and reopen media outlets. It's time for change! 🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/1LC7GWoVXy— Kumi Naidoo (@kuminaidoo) January 16, 2019