US unilaterally closes Somali internet links

The United States of America has deprived Somali citizens of Internet links because it suspects that the company providing the service has links with Osama Bin laden’s Al-Qaeda network.

The US administration decided to freeze the assets of Somalia Internet Company and Al-Barakaat, the only Internet provider and the main telecommunications provider, respectively. The result is that Somalia is without Internet services, placing the lives of civilians at risk and a great part of the country has its telephone service cut off, because the alternative providers state they cannot handle all the traffic.

The two companies deny the charges, stating that they have no link whatsoever with any terrorist networks. Somalia Internet Company has complained that its links with international servers have been closed, while Al-Barakaat has revealed that its international telephone links have also been cut off.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru