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Civil society fights back after internet restrictions in Mozambique spark outcry and legal action

Civil society fights back after internet restrictions in Mozambique spark outcry and legal action
Lerato Mutsila
By Lerato Mutsila
21 Nov 2024
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Mozambican citizens have not had stable access to the internet since the government instituted widespread restrictions on 25 October 2024. Civil society organisations are taking internet service providers to court to protect citizens’ rights.

As young people in Mozambique continue to be the voice of dissent in the aftermath of the country's disputed election, several civil society organisations are taking a stand against acts of repression.

While demonstrators have been targeted with rubber bullets, live ammunition and teargas, widespread government-mandated internet restrictions have cut off all Mozambicans from their primary tools for organising and voicing their frustrations.

The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) and the Civil Society Learning and Training Centre (CESC) have filed an injunction against three telecommunications companies, TMcel, Movitel and South Africa’s Vodacom, demanding that the service providers re-establish full access to the internet.

In a joint statement, the organisation said the internet restrictions seriously compromised the fundamental rights of Mozambican citizens.

“In a period of high tension, the restrictions imposed have worsened insecurity and restricted access to truthful and up-to-date information on national and international events,” the organisations said, calling on the court to immediately and continuously restore internet access and grant preliminary injunctions to ensure that citizens’ constitutional rights were preserved and that Mozambique did not backtrack on its commitment to the democratic rule of law.

Courts silent


Centre for Democracy and Human Rights director Professor Adriano Nuvunga told Daily Maverick that although the injunction had been filed, they had yet to hear from the courts.

“We are seeing a two-fold strategy; number one is that they are delaying the response to us, and two, they tell us that the courts are not working because of the protests. At the same time, we see that the government is gradually lifting the blackouts, but there are still restrictions,” Nuvunga said.

He added that in addition to the legal action, the organisation had reached out to Vodafone, which owns a majority stake in Vodacom.

“Our question to them is would they expect Vodafone to shut down the internet at the orders of a political party in the UK? There is a clear double standard there. We are waiting for a response,” Nuvunga said.

He added that the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights had launched a campaign to collect damages that had resulted from the telecommunications companies’ actions.

He said the consequences of the internet shutdowns extended beyond the infringement of citizens’ rights, and carried serious financial implications for many people.

“I was given a figure of about 110 Mozambican mid- to high-ranking officers in their companies who had to relocate to South Africa to continue having access to the internet in order to do their work,” Nuvunga said.

Responsibility of internet service providers


According to Human Rights Watch, customers in Mozambique had been receiving text messages stating that access to some social networks had been temporarily restricted for “reasons beyond our control” since 25 October 2024.

Nuvunga told Daily Maverick that although customers had recently received messages claiming that the network was fully operational, this was not entirely factual.

“This is not true, it is still highly limited. To say things are getting better would be a strong word, but the connection is improving slightly,” Nuvunga said.

There are currently no binding sanctions or penalties for disrupting the internet, but several organisations have raised important questions about the responsibility internet service providers have to ensure that their consumers’ rights are not being infringed on.

Right2Know National Communication Coordinator Sello Freddy Mathekga told Daily Maverick that in order for most shutdowns to be successful there needed to be a level of compliance by the internet service providers. 

“You would want to believe that internet service providers are an independent body that operates on their independent discretion. When the government now comes to dictate to them to shut down the internet and they just agree, does that not give the customers a right to boycott their services?” Mathekga asked.

Existing legislation does not offer clarity on internet service providers’ responsibilities when a government has mandated them to either restrict or completely shut down the internet.

Mathekga said that deeper regulatory frameworks were required to regulate how internet service providers delivered services to their clients, and to limit the government’s ability to lobby privately owned companies to act on an anti-constitutional mandate.

Freedom of expression


Mozambique’s constitution enshrines the freedom of expression and access to information, and the nation is ratified into the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees the right to receive information and express and disseminate opinions under Article 9. 

Global cybersecurity expert Chris Musodza said that despite this the government and internet service providers operating in the region were continually showing evidence of slipping away from the nation’s constitutional ideals.

“It’s disheartening to see the country sliding back and going against some of the ideals it has in its constitution. Social media is crucial and the partial shutdowns are not only shutting down communication, they are also shutting down the right to assemble,” Musodza said. 

Musodza expressed concern that as protesting Mozambicans continued to voice their dissent and participate in demonstrations, the government would respond with a total shutdown of internet services.

“That would be a disaster. The hospital system, banking systems, and many other things rely on telecom infrastructure. We hope something can be done to avoid a total internet shutdown,” Musodza said.

He added that the case currently before the court in Mozambique would be instrumental in bringing awareness to the situation and pressuring the internet service providers to act in the interest of their consumers.

Daily Maverick reached out to Vodacom, TMcel and Movitel about the internet restrictions in Mozambique. The publication asked the following questions:

  • Internet access policies: Could you outline the policies and stance on restricting internet access, particularly in contexts involving civil unrest or political tension? Under what circumstances would the service provider agree to restrict internet access, and what legal or regulatory frameworks guide these decisions?

  • Internet restriction in Mozambique: What factors influenced the decision to limit internet access in Mozambique? Was this decision made in response to directives from Mozambican authorities, and if so, can you provide more information on the nature of those directives?

  • Response to civil society demands: What is the service provider’s response to the recent injunction filed by the Centre for Public Integrity, the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, and the Civil Society Learning and Training Centre, which calls for the immediate re-establishment of unrestricted internet access in Mozambique? How does the company intend to address the concerns raised by these organisations?


No response was received by the time of publication.

Media freedom under threat


In addition to the digital repression of its citizens, journalists in the region have been targeted by authorities as the crackdown on the demonstrators continues.

Last week two South African journalists, correspondent Bongani Siziba and cameraman Sbonelo Mkhasibe, were detained while reporting on the protest for News Central TV. Mkhasibe and Siziba were allegedly mistreated and blindfolded during their arrest, and while the pair were subsequently released, the arrests elicited condemnation from the South African National Editors’ Forum.

“Their arbitrary arrest while reporting on anti-government protests in Maputo is a flagrant violation of international protocols protecting press freedom. Journalists play a vital role in promoting accountability and transparency. Mozambique, as a member of the Southern African Development Community and a signatory to the African Union’s freedom of the media protocols, has a duty to uphold these values,” Sanef said.

Sanef called on Southern African Development Community member states, the African Union, and international bodies to hold Mozambique accountable and to advocate for the protection of journalists and the safeguarding of freedom of expression across the region. DM

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