Somalia plans to block social media ahead of national high school exams
May 16, 2019
Internet Shutdown Censorship AfricaThe Minister of Education of Somalia, Hon. Abdullahi Godah Barre, announced on the 13th of May 2019 that social media networks will not be accessible during the national high school exams that have been postponed12 for the end of May.
Wasaaradda waxbarashada Soomaaliya markay la tashatay bah wadaagta waxbarashada waxaan go’aan ku gaarnay in la joojiyo imtixaankii ka socday dalka islamarkana la baabi iyo natiijada madooyinkii la galay. pic.twitter.com/1o3mp7IrG6
— Hon. Abdullahi Godah Barre (@Godahbarre) May 13, 2019
The exams that started on the 11th of May had to be cancelled after reports emerged that exams papers have been leaked and are even being sold & shared on social media platforms. The Ministry of Education thus took the decision to postpone the exams which are now scheduled for the 27th until the 31st of May 2019.
The decision to postpone exams has sparked riots in Mogadishu as thousands of students are directly concerned.
BREAKING Education Minister Abdullahi Godah and police boss' attempts to address rioting students in #Mogadishu fail after the students shouted them down #Somalia pic.twitter.com/ePX5XqXXwH
— DalsanTV (@DalsanTv) May 14, 2019
Seif Magango, the Regional Director of Amnesty, commented that the ministry should focus on securing the integrity of exams instead of taking drastic measures that hurt the freedom of expression.