The Liberia government is reported to have switched off the internet following protests by the citizenry in the capital Monrovia over corruption that has grounded president George Weah’s administration.
Reports suggest that platforms including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook were blocked to subdue the anti-government protests dubbed “Save The State,”. The protests come barely over a year since the inauguration of former soccer star George Weah as the president.
Ironically, when Weah was yet to be in power, he pledged that he would tackle corruption head-on, improve the provision of crucial services such as education, health, and infrastructure. It is reported that $104 million and an additional $25 million were lost a few months Weah got into office.
Liberia joins African states like Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Algeria who have blocked the internet during anti-government protests. NetBlocks director, Alp Toker said:
