Internet services disrupted in Senegal amid political unrest

According to a news report by the internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, network data have confirmed a disruption of the internet affecting social media and other messaging apps in Senegal as of Friday 5 March, 2021. The network metrics showed that Facebook, Youtube, WhatsApp, and some Telegram servers were restricted on Orange/Sonatel which is the leading network operator in Senegal. The internet restrictions, according to the report, came about in the wake of clashes between protestors and anti-riot police in the capital Dakar. The protestors have been demonstrating for two consecutive days following the arrest of the main opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.