This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
On May 20, 2020, Burundi's government shut down popular social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, as the country prepared for its presidential election.
The shutdown, which also affected Yahoo Mail, came as fears of possible violence during and after the polls grew. YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter, which are less popular among Burundians, remained accessible.
There was no official comment from the government regarding the shutdown, but Willy Nyamitwe, the president's communication advisor, tweeted that the internet was not cut off. However, many Burundians reported being unable to access their social media accounts.
“I couldn’t access my WhatsApp this morning and I wasn’t aware of what went wrong until a friend told me to install VPN so now am connected,” said a Bujumbura resident.
The presidential and legislative elections were held amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic. While there was no social distancing at polling stations, voters were obliged to wash their hands before joining queues. Burundi has recorded 42 Covid-19 positive cases, one death, and 20 recoveries.
