Equatorial Guinea Cuts Internet to Annobón Island After Protest Over Dynamite Blasting

Following a protest by residents of Annobón Island, Equatorial Guinea, against dynamite explosions by a Moroccan construction company, Somagec, the government responded by cutting off internet access to the island. Dozens of protesters were imprisoned for nearly a year. The internet shutdown has crippled banking and emergency medical services, leaving residents reliant on expensive phone calls. The government and Somagec deny involvement in the shutdown, but the action is seen as another instance of government repression. Despite the island's mineral wealth, residents live in poverty and have sought independence for years, with this internet outage exacerbating tensions.