Social media blackout in Mauritius following Chagos handover leaks

In a sweeping and controversial move, the Government of Mauritius said, on Friday, that all internet service providers must halt access to social media platforms - a measure that was set to be in place until November 11th, the day after the highly anticipated parliamentary elections. The directive was announced by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, and comes amid escalating political tensions following a major wiretapping scandal that has dominated headlines in the nation for weeks.

The ban has been justified by the Government on the grounds of national security. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth defended the move and argued that the leaks associated with the scandal have created a volatile environment that jeopardise the integrity of the state. The scandal saw 20 recorded conversations involving politicians, law enforcement officials and journalists leaked on social media, with the Prime Minister claiming that a number of these records were doctored through the use of artificial intelligence, although he has not been forthcoming with any associated evidence.

However, the ban was lifted just 24 hours after its imposition following outcry from civil society organisations and the public.

The leaked audio included conversations surrounding the UK-Mauritian deal to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory. Conversations between the British High Commissioner Charlotte Pierre, Mauritian government officials, and local businessman Ken Arian discussing the deal during the negotiations were posted to a Mauritian Facebook page, and are believed to have been from the early stages of the negotiations.

Jugnauth became Prime Minister in 2017 following the resignation of his father, and is currently seeking a second term in the upcoming Mauritian general election. Opposition leaders and various civil society organisations have condemned the shutdown as an attempt to suppress dissent and control the narrative ahead of the election - instigating and utilising the social media blackout for political gain. The leader of the Alliance for Change party - the Prime Minister’s main political opponent, accused the Government of manipulating resources of the state to avoid a defeat at the election, noting that the Government is willing to use any means necessary to remain in power.

The scandal has been a prominent issue in Mauritian politics and media for a number of weeks and has generated widespread outrage across the country. The leaked conversations have further fueled the anger and unrest around allegations of corruption and other scandals associated with Jugnauth’s Government. Jugnauth’s leadership has faced scrutiny prior, with his 2019 election victory being challenged in court via accusations of bribery and undue influence, but the claims were later dismissed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London - Mauritius’ final court of appeal.

As the November 10th election looms, the temporary social media suspension has intensified already lively debates surrounding governance, corruption and press freedom in the country. In light of these revelations within Mauritius, as well as the wider security concerns surrounding the negotiations of the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the UK Government must reconsider the deal. In response, Friends of the British Overseas Territories said the following:

“'Trusted' Commonwealth partner Mauritius has banned all social media on the run-up to their election over leaked audio recordings from their Prime Minister's Office, including negotiations over Chagos Islands.

The UK has been fooled. The deal must be dropped.”