#KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea authorities must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses in Annobón

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We, the undersigned organizations, and members of the #KeepItOn coalition are alarmed at reports which indicate the province of Annobón in Equatorial Guinea has been cut off from the internet and mobile telecommunications networks following demonstrations taking place on the island.

Since July 20th, 2024, cellular service and internet access in Annobón have been shut down, leaving residents of the island completely cut off from the world. This followed reports of government security forces conducting arrests and seizing mobile phones  after dozens of residents peacefully demonstrated in the city of San Antonio de Palé against the harmful impact of dynamite explosions linked to ongoing mining operations on the island. On August 2, the government reportedly banned the sale and use of unauthorized internet satellite services and equipment and on August 5, it ordered satellite internet provider Starlink to immediately suspend its services for all kits located in the country and to seek a license.

Annobón is the smallest of Equatorial Guinea’s eight provinces, and its inhabitants have a long history of suffering marginalization, exploitation and human rights abuses. The island is a biodiversity hotspot with a natural protected reserve which is under threat, including large-scale dumping of toxic waste on the island and surrounding waters.

This is not the first time Equatorial Guinea has shut down the internet. In 2013, the government blocked Facebook throughout the country following the announcement of pro-democracy protests, coinciding with the lead up to legislative and municipal elections in the country. Again, in November 2017, as the country headed to the polls, internet access was cut off for at least five days, restricting access to information and an important avenue for freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

Internet shutdowns cover up  human rights abuses

The recent demonstrations began after the arrest of 16 individuals who signed on to a letter written to the government, expressing concerns about the deterioration of the ecosystem and the environment, and demanding an end to the use of dynamites on the island. These demonstrations were initially met with arrests and threats to open fire on the protestors. Witnesses have also reported soldiers beating residents and shooting into crowds, with many people injured and unable to access healthcare on the remote island. Security forces have reportedly detained at least 33 people across the country in connection with the unrest.

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. Journalists are also often unable to provide important coverage during shutdowns, taking away from their watchdog role, creating dangerous information vacuums and rendering people without access to credible and verifiable sources of information. The government’s actions have deprived the people of Annobón of a crucial lifeline during this crisis and can only serve to enable further human rights abuses on the island. 

Internet shutdowns violate human rights and contravene municipal and international law

Restricting access to the internet, mobile devices, and communication platforms during periods of unrest such as conflicts and protests, and moments of national importance such as elections, further puts people at risk and undermines the enjoyment of all other human rights, from education and work to healthcare and public services, as well as free expression and peaceful assembly guaranteed under Article 13 (b) and 13 (k) of the Constitution of Equatorial Guinea respectively. In times of crisis, people rely on the internet to stay connected to their loved ones  and to access vital, timely, and potentially life-saving information, as well as emergency services. 

Equatorial Guinea is a signatory to regional and international frameworks, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protect and promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, assembly, and access to information — both offline and online. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 2019 also calls on States not to “engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.” The 2016 ACHPR Resolution recognizes the “importance of the internet in advancing human and peoples’ rights in Africa,” and “​​calls on States Parties to respect and take legislative and other measures to guarantee, respect and protect citizen’s right to freedom of information and expression through access to Internet services.” Moreover, the UN Secretary General and other experts have affirmed that “blanket internet shutdowns and generic blocking and filtering of services are considered by United Nations human rights mechanisms to be in violation of international human rights law.”

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, businesses have a corporate responsibility to respect human rights and must “seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products or services.”  Telecommunications companies and ISPs operating in Equatorial Guinea — including  GITGE, GETESA, and Muni — have a responsibility to ensure access to reliable, open, and secure internet and digital communication tools for all people, including the residents of Annobón.

We call on the government of Equatorial Guinea to:

• Act in accordance with its constitutional and international human rights obligations and immediately restore access to the internet and mobile telecommunication services in Annobón;
• Refrain from arbitrarily shutting down access to the internet, telephone communication, and online communication platforms, and publicly commit to ensuring the internet remains open, accessible, inclusive, and secure for all people;
• Conduct full and transparent investigations into the reports of confiscation of mobile phones in Annobón and ensure the return of phones found to have been confiscated from residents; and
• Ensure that “additional steps are taken to prevent against human rights abuses by businesses that are owned or controlled by the state,” such as GITGE and GETESA, in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

We call on telecommunications and internet service providers operating in Annobón and Equatorial Guinea to:

• Uphold their obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to respect human rights, prevent or mitigate potential harms, and provide remedy for harms they cause or contribute to while operating;
• Refrain from carrying out directives from authorities or taking any actions that will interfere with internet access, including during protests, and immediately end all ongoing restrictions; and
• Disclose any orders that they receive to restrict access to the internet, communication platforms, or cellular networks.

In addition, we call on the African Union and relevant UN bodies to: 

• Use all available channels to urge the authorities of Equatorial Guinea, as well as businesses, to implement the actions outlined above; and
• Call for full and transparent investigations into the reports of arbitrary arrests, confiscation of mobile phones, internet shutdowns, and other human rights abuses in Annobón.

Signatories