Audio By Carbonatix
Social media platforms have become inaccessible in Burundi as voting kicked off across the east African country on Wednesday.
The BBC has confirmed that access to Twitter, Whatsapp and Facebook has been blocked.
Only those using Virtual Private Network (VPN), which mask a user's identity, could access the social media sites.
The government has not commented on the development.
Polling stations opened early morning and journalist Moses Havyarimana has tweeted a photo of the turnout in one station:
Voting kicks off in #Burundi #BurundiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/pRZogYFBps
— Moses Havyarimana (@Havmoses) May 20, 2020
Human rights organisations had urged the government not to block the internet on voting day because it would hinder access to crucial election information.
Critics say the outage will also affect the opposition who will be unable to flag electoral malpractices.
Latest Stories
-
Britney Spears arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence
4 hours -
Harry Styles shares how Liam Payne’s death made him relook at his life
4 hours -
Labour unrest could scare investors – Austin Gamey warns
4 hours -
Blaming new gov’t alone over CLOGSAG intended strike ‘not fair’ – Austin Gamey
4 hours -
Court remands aluminium fabricator over gold robbery
4 hours -
KNUST returns to pre-COVID-19 calendar, begins 2026/27 academic year in October
4 hours -
CLOGSAG says strike inevitable after failed engagements with government
4 hours -
Panel suspends medical director, two doctors over Chimamanda son’s death
4 hours -
SONA: Mpraeso MP questions funding of One Million Coders Programme, cites possible PFMA violations
4 hours -
Majority, Minority trade blame over pirate attack during debate on President Mahama’s SONA
4 hours -
SONA: Mpraeso MP questions gov’t’s silence on AT Ghana as over 3m subscribers face uncertainty
4 hours -
‘We don’t target children’ – Israeli Ambassador reveals probe into deadly Iranian school strike
4 hours -
Economic Zones Chamber applauds CBI for launching world’s largest Calcined Clay Cement plant in Tema
6 hours -
Residents attack fire officers for arriving late to a fire outbreak at Konongo
6 hours -
President Mahama adds rice, tomato puree, mackerel to land transit ban, proposes pasta next
6 hours