[kictanet] Gambia Shuts Down the Internet

Mon Dec 5 07:20:34 EAT 2016

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you Grace for bringing up the subject. This matter may not be as
simple as it appears. It demonstrates the reality of priorities in
Africa and African leaders. This matter requires a bottom up
multi-stakeholder approach in each African country which can then feed
into a process agreed on by the African Union to hopefully resolve the
issue. If you read the Africa Union Constitutive Act Article 4 on
Principles (g) non-interference by any Member State in the internal
affairs of another; you see how external actions are already limited
in a way. Article 30 reads Article 30
suspension
Governments which shall come to power through unconstitutional means
shall not be allowed to participate in the activities of the Union.
Which leads to another point. As things stand and applying the
sovereignty card,  what is constitutional in one country may not be
unconstitutional in another country including the issue of Internet
shut downs. I suppose most African governments only view ICT's as a
tool and not an end in itself as most of us view it hence they can use
it for propaganda or curtail it depending on how high or low the
political tide is.
I propose that as Kenyan and African citizens we become proactive
other than reactive in this conversation akin to the open discussions
we had at the Kenya Internet Governance Forum 2016 where the IEBC
participated in a very candid manner. Thanks for sterling moderation,
you could see the way discussants wanted to fire misguided salvo's to
the presenter akin to talking at as opposed to talking with each
other. We need open and continuous engagement between government,
Civil Society, private sector who run the Telcos and academia
(researchers) on the merits and demerits of Internet shutdowns guided
by facts on the effects of the actions on the social, political  and
economic spheres of each country. I have heard cases of African actors
advancing agenda's they hardly have facts on which is indicative of
the outcomes of some of campaigns. It is good to understand each
stakeholders perspective and motivation on the subject and outline
areas where each party contravenes the constitution on a case by case
basis. We can then use the reports to lobby the African Union. As
things stand

On 12/5/16, Joash Moitui via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> 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.
>>
>

-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254733206359
Skype: barrack.otieno
PGP ID: 0x2611D86A