CONAKRY, Guinea — Internet access was disrupted across Guinea on Sunday as voters cast ballots in a constitutional referendum, with major social media platforms and Google services knocked offline.
The outage began in the morning as polls opened, leaving many Guineans unable to access Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Instagram or Gmail. Voters and civil society groups said the disruptions hampered the flow of information at a time when communication was critical.
Authorities did not immediately comment on the outages.
“This type of disruption limits transparency and prevents citizens from fully participating in the democratic process,” said a civil society activist in Conakry.
Despite the network restrictions, long lines formed outside polling stations in the capital and other regions, with voters saying they were determined to cast their ballots.
Rights groups have criticized internet shutdowns in several African countries during elections or political events, saying they undermine public trust.
Guinea’s referendum is seen as a key moment in shaping the country’s political future. International observers are monitoring the vote.
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