Rwanda bans updating, commenting on social media without govt approval

Rwanda bans updating, commenting on social media without govt approval

By Kaihura Gentil Gishenyi.

Rwanda’s electoral commission has issued an order to presidential candidates who want to make any social media update, comment or sharing a photo to first present to its 7 election commissioners 48hours before publication for pre-approval.

The measure, published in the government gazette earlier this month, will be effective as from the start of the official campaign on July 14 and concerns “messages, photographs and other campaign material” published on social networks.

This means there will be no spur of the moment, facebook posts/comments or Twitter rants by Rwanda’s presidential candidates, throughout the campaign period

“We are asking (candidates) to present us their messages, their drafts” to verify that they are not against the law,”

Electoral commission head Kalisa Mbanda told AFP on Monday.

Any social media messages will have to be submitted to the seven election commissioners at least 48 hours before their publication.

Rwanda bans social media updates,comment without govt approval

Rwanda bans updating, commenting on social media without govt pre-approval