Open letter to keep the internet free and secure during the elections in the Republic of Guinea
For the presidential election in the Republic of Guinea to be fair and democratic, President Alpha Condé must ensure stable and open internet access before, during and after polling day, scheduled for 18 October 2020.
“Internet access plays a crucial role in elections, and the people of Guinea have the right to participate actively in the voting process, engage in public debate and hold their elected leaders to account,” said Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner and #KeepItOn Lead at Access Now. “The democratic landscape of the Republic of Guinea has been tarnished in recent years by government-imposed internet shutdowns, which call the credibility of election results into question. The whole world is watching, and we will not let an entire nation be silenced again – not today, not tomorrow, and not during the 2020 presidential election.”
Access Now and 35 organisations are issuing an urgent appeal to the Guinean government through an open letter, calling on it to:
- Ensure that the internet, including social media and other digital communication platforms, remains open, accessible and secure;
- Publicly assure the people of the Republic of Guinea that the internet and all social media platforms will remain available, and inform the public of any disruption; and
- Ask internet service providers to deliver high-quality, secure, free and open internet access throughout the election.
This public call to stay connected follows recorded incidents of network disruption on 21 and 22 March 2020, during the country’s referendum on constitutional reforms.
