Equatorial Guinea's smallest province remains without internet

Annobón, the smallest island province in Equatorial Guinea, has been without internet since July 20, 2024, no thanks to a government-ordered shutdown. 

The blackout followed peaceful protests in the island's capital, San Antonio de Palé, against environmental damage caused by explosions linked to infrastructure projects by Moroccan company SOMAGEC. Reportedly, blasts have turned fertile land into barren pits and put homes at risk.

Frustrated by the lack of response to a letter sent to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema on July 9, locals took to the streets in mid-July. The letter called for an end to the destructive activities allegedly carried out under the guise of port and airport development. 

In response, the state arrested at least 33 people across the West African country, including Francisco Ballovera Estrada, a member of the opposition party CPDS.

Detainees, held in Malabo and Bata, are reportedly in dire conditions. They remain confined in cramped cells with no access to necessities unless given by their families. Allegations of torture have also surfaced; several detainees require medical attention.

Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue accused protesters of rebellion and sedition, vowing they would face legal consequences. The censoring has made it difficult to verify the situation, raising concerns about the leadership’s actions.

The Ministry of Transport, Post, and Telecommunications on August 7 ordered Elon Musk’s Starlink to suspend its satellite internet services, which were launched in the market earlier this year. 

This is not the first time the Equatoguinean government has used such measures. In 2013, it blocked Facebook access following pro-democracy protests, and in 2017, it cut off the internet during national elections. These actions limit citizens' ability to communicate, document abuses, and access information.

Annobón, though small, is rich in biodiversity and has a history of environmental exploitation. The recent events have only deepened the sense of isolation and injustice among its residents. Telecommunications companies in Equatorial Guinea are urged to resist government orders that infringe on human rights and to disclose any directives to restrict internet access.

The situation remains critical, with no signs of the government easing its crackdown. The international community's response will be crucial in addressing this ongoing crisis.

AccessNow, a digital rights organization, has condemned the shutdown in Annobón, calling it a blatant attempt by the Equatoguinean government to silence dissent and conceal human rights violations. 

The organization urged the government to immediately restore mobile communication services. It also called on telcos to resist government directives and appealed to the international community to hold Equatorial Guinea accountable.

“Internet shutdowns hinder people’s ability to document and report on human rights abuses by authorities during periods of unrest such as conflicts and protests and enable perpetrators to evade accountability,” reads a part of the statement. 

Some 3,148 km away, Mauritania finds itself in a similar debacle, having been cut off from the internet since July in response to demonstrations against election results favoring the country's incumbent leader, President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.