[kictanet] Gambia Shuts Down the Internet

Mon Dec 5 06:36:17 EAT 2016

Dear all,

As part of the civil society practicum participants in the Afrisig 2016,
our first statement called for a complete denunciation of the internet
shutdowns. But as we progressed on the final statement, we realized that
hardline positions taken by every multi-stakeholder groups only meant that
discussions couldn't proceed further. Concessions had to be made to make
this joint statement a reality and this is the situation in actual 'real
life' situations and negotiations that involve multi-stakeholder groups, be
it in IG, climate change talks and even international trade negotiations.

Please see attached the civil society 'hardline' statement before
concessions were made.

warm regards,

*---*

*Joash Ntenga Moitui*
Research Fellow
Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies
Daphton Court, A2
Riverside Drive
P O Box 23748 00100
Nairobi
Office: +254.20.5270577

Cell: +254.728.688726
Email: jmoitui at chrips.or.ke <emayiera at chrips.or.ke>
Skype: joash.norman
www.chrips.or.ke
<https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/e06567813c1704f38943fbc3703d45b891020a34?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chrips.or.ke%2F&signature=bb02717690357592>

On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 5:09 AM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Hi Ali,
>
> Easy :-).
>
> It was a consensus document by students learning Internet Governance. And
> the consensus was reached because participants were made to stay up until
> 1am (It happens in real life anyway). So some gave up so that they can
> catch up with their sleep. Just that you know, those who played the role of
> government and put that clause allowing "some shutdowns" were actually
> civil society practitioners in real life :)
>
> Have you ever noticed how people change when they get into government?
> They literally wear a different cap. Like the reminders being sent on the
> list requesting some information from government. It's like asking for
> blood donation from a housefly.
>
> Regards
>
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>
>
>
> On 5 December 2016 at 05:44, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>
>> Mwendwa
>>
>> Thanks for sharing this. I'm of the hardline stance. No Internet
>> Shutdowns. Period. Let me share some excerpts:-
>>
>>
>>
>>    1. We also recognize that there are cases when Internet shutdowns are
>>    a means to ensuring the wellbeing of citizens, such as during cyber attacks
>>    from outside the country, military attacks and terrorist activity.
>>
>>
>>    1. We recommend that the independent national multistakeholder
>>    commissions on Internet Shutdowns be guided by the following:
>>
>>
>>    - National security and public order
>>    - Transparency & accountability
>>    - Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
>>    - Necessity & proportionality
>>
>>
>> We are just opening the door to a slippery slop of legitimizing such
>> actions. Can you imagine a Government in Africa calling
>> 'Mulit-Stakeholders' together to determine a shutdown?  You will just have
>> a bunch of rubber stumpers trooping to 'Government House' to lend their
>> hand.
>>
>> We stand a snowball's chance in hell before that happens. Having said
>> that I do appreciate the efforts that have gone into this and commend all
>> the players who were involved in drafting this. If nothing else it will
>> continue to highlight the risks we continue to face.
>>
>> *Ali Hussein*
>> *Principal*
>> *Hussein & Associates*
>> +254 0713 601113 <+254%20713%20601113>
>>
>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>
>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>
>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>
>>
>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
>> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On 4 Dec 2016, at 10:00 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>> Speaking of declarations Grace Mutung'u,
>>
>> The African School on Internet Governance (AFRISIG) class of 2016, in
>> their practicum came up with a statement on Internet shutdown. All
>> stakeholder groups, including Government, Civil Society, Academia,
>> Business, and Technical community agreed that the statement was balanced
>> http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/statement-on-an-int
>> entional-internet-shutdown/
>>
>> It took 4 days to produce the statement through wider consultations and
>> consensus building. Probably this is a statement that can be expounded upon.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> ______________________
>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3 December 2016 at 21:39, Grace Mutung'u via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Poncelet,
>>> Thank you for sharing. I cannot imagine the effect of a 52 hour complete
>>> and deliberate shutdown. We are glad to have you back online. Welcome back!
>>> I agree with you that we must continue to promote the African
>>> Declaration, now more than ever. Incidentally, I have not come across any
>>> pronouncements by the African Union on this matter of Internet shutdowns.
>>> Have you?
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> PS: The African Declaration is here: http://africaninternetrights.org/
>>>
>>> 2016-12-03 17:24 GMT+03:00 Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:
>>>
>>>> Poncelet
>>>>
>>>> Congratulations to all in The Gambia. And to the incumbent for
>>>> accepting the defeat even with the shut down he initiated.
>>>>
>>>> One other thing..We can actually calculate the cost of Internet
>>>> Shutdowns. Last year countries lost $2.4 billion. See link:-
>>>>
>>>> https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/intenet
>>>> -shutdowns-v-3.pdf
>>>>
>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>
>>>> *Principal*
>>>>
>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>
>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>
>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,
>>>>
>>>> Chiromo Road, Westlands,
>>>>
>>>> Nairobi, Kenya.
>>>>
>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
>>>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 3:20 PM, Poncelet Ileleji via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Grace,
>>>>>
>>>>> It was 52 Hours complete shutdown starting 8"08pm on election eve on
>>>>> the 30th of Nov and it was officially announced on TV that it was going to
>>>>> be down no secret about it,International Lines cut off too later  local SMS
>>>>> weas also cut off, we came back online 12:30pm yesterday coincidentally
>>>>> after the incumbent had conceded defeat to the Coalition flag bearer ending
>>>>> 22 years of his rule.
>>>>>
>>>>> We need to promote more and more  the African Declaration of Internet
>>>>> rights so our leaders know it matters in the true sense of the word  the
>>>>> economic loss alone, we cant quantify, the joy here in the Gambia  its
>>>>> basically the digital natives those born after  the outgoing leader came to
>>>>> power  1994 that basically voted him out,
>>>>>
>>>>> Well enjoy the weekend, have loads to say, but will talk later on this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kind Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> Poncelet
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2 December 2016 at 01:06, Grace Mutung'u via kictanet <
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Listers,
>>>>>> Internet shutdowns are almost becoming a part of African elections
>>>>>> and reports indicate that Gambia has taken this step ahead of elections
>>>>>> tomorrow. With an added twist- calls also seem to be blocked.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A few months ago we discussed the Ugandan shutdown where we went at
>>>>>> length into the techniques employed, including electricity blackouts. With
>>>>>> our own elections round the corner, a few questions:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is anyone concerned that Kenya may also have a shutdown come
>>>>>> elections?
>>>>>> In the (hopefully hypothetical) case that we had a shutdown, who
>>>>>> would effect it? ISPs? MNOs? Kenya Power?
>>>>>> And who would give the orders? The Government? The Regulator?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hoping that these are just hypothetical musings.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Grace
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>>>>>> Nairobi Kenya
>>>>>> Skype: gracebomu
>>>>>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/pileleji%40ymca.gm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS
>>>>> Coordinator
>>>>> The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio
>>>>> MDI Road Kanifing South
>>>>> P. O. Box 421 Banjul
>>>>> The Gambia, West Africa
>>>>> Tel: (220) 4370240 <(220)%20437-0240>
>>>>> Fax:(220) 4390793 <(220)%20439-0793>
>>>>> Cell:(220) 9912508 <(220)%20991-2508>
>>>>> Skype: pons_utd
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *www.ymca.gm <http://www.ymca.gm>http://jokkolabs.net/en/
>>>>> <http://jokkolabs.net/en/>www.waigf.org
>>>>> <http://www.waigf.org>www,insistglobal.com <http://www.itag.gm>www.npoc.org
>>>>> <http://www.npoc.org>http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753
>>>>> <http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753>*www.diplointernetgovernance.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>>>>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>>> Nairobi Kenya
>>> Skype: gracebomu
>>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>>
>>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>>
>>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>> ailman/options/kictanet/lordmwesh%40gmail.com
>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>> ailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
> mailman/options/kictanet/joash.moitui%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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