On 09 June 2021, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the Commission’s country rapporteur on the human rights situation in Nigeria transmitted a joint letter of urgent appeal to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, regarding the recent indefinite suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria and the threat of prosecution of Nigerians using the platform. Drawing attention to the serious, disproportionate, consequences of this action on various human rights including freedom of expression and access to information, the right to work and freedom of association and freedom of assembly, the letter appealed for review of this action by opting for addressing concerns through a means that does not suspend the enjoyment of rights under the African Charter.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will remain actively seized of this matter.
