International

Nigeria indefinitely bans Twitter, in a tweet

Published

2 years ago

June 4, 2021

The government of Nigeria announced Friday that it will be banning Twitter in the country. Ironically, the announcement was made in a tweet.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed also announced the suspension in a statement. He reportedly said “the persistent use of the platform” is “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
— Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021

As of the time of this report, even the Media Special Assistant to the President Segun Adeyemi still has a Twitter account with over 1500 followers. Even the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture has its account still with over 260,000 followers. It is unclear when the ban will go into effect.

Now, Twitter users worldwide are encouraging Nigerians to download virtual private networks, or VPNs, so that they can still use the platform after it’s banned. Lagos-based NGO Gavel condemned the ban.

We strongly condemn the actions of the FG as violating the right to expression and we advise all Nigerians to download VPNs.
We are discussing with partners to develop most effective legal strategies in this time. #ResistDictatorship #ShrinkingSpace
— #Tech4Justice (@citizen_gavel) June 4, 2021

Soon, VPN was trending worldwide. It topped the trending list in Nigerian Twitter.

‘VPNS’ is the number one trend on Twitter in Nigeria; these are the best ones to use in the case of a Twitter ban https://t.co/UT4dcAxrM4 pic.twitter.com/PiFPSPefDi
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) June 4, 2021

Local entrepreneur Olorunshola Emmanuel tweeted a step-by-step tutorial for fellow Nigerians who are unfamiliar with VPNs. It quickly became his most viral tweet.

As federal government has announced they are suspending Twitter in Nigeria,

Here's a thread of some VPNs I have used or still using both paid and free.

1. Betternet: this doesn't need any special configuration, just search on app store install and skip registration, connect!
— Olorunshola Emmanuel (@iamimanuel) June 4, 2021

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter, unless you’re in Nigeria and not using a VPN, @jennyjournalism.

Related Topics:censorship nigeria social media Twitter

International

Mental health crisis spikes among Afghan women after Taliban regained control two years ago

Published

5 days ago

September 21, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The women of Afghanistan are suffering a mental health crisis since the Taliban regained power two years ago. According to a joint report from three U.N. agencies released Tuesday, approximately 70% of women experience feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.

The numbers continue to rise, as there has already been a significant jump between April and June of this year alone, with an increase from 57% the preceding quarter.

The report, conducted by U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, interviewed women online, in-person and in group consultations as well as individual telesurveys.

592 Afghan women in 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces took part in the study. The Associated Press reports:

They have barred women from most areas of public life and work and banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade. They have prohibited Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental organizations. The ban was extended to employees of the United Nations in April.

Opportunities to study continued to shrink as community-based education by international organizations was banned and home-based schooling initiatives were regularly shut down by the de facto authorities — a term use by the U.N. for the Taliban government.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world with restrictions on female education and the rights of Afghan women and children are on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The report also served as a vessel for Afghan women to send a message to the rest of the world: do not validate the Taliban government. Forty-six percent of women said international recognition of the Taliban government should not happen under any circumstances, while 50% warned that recognition should only occur under specific conditions contingent on improving women’s rights.

The report notes that the women expressed concern that recognition would only encourage the Taliban government to continue becoming stricter in their policies and practices against women and girls.

Afghan women had specific ideas and suggestions: they “urged the international community to continue political and economic sanctions against the Taliban, including by not granting exemptions to a travel ban. They urged an increase in engagement with the Taliban on gender equality and women’s rights, including by engaging community and religious leaders in awareness and advocacy efforts” writes the Associated Press.