False, President Boakai & VP Koung Ordering Internet Disconnection to Rig Nimba Elections
Claim: “Boakai-Koung ordered the disconnection of internet until after the elections in Nimba.”
Source: Randall M. Dabayou II, former Deputy Executive Director at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia
Verdict: False
Full text: On April 21, 2025, Dabayou claimed that Liberian President, Joseph N. Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung had ordered the disconnection of the internet until after the senatorial by-elections in Nimba to rig the election.
This post generated 52 reactions, 147 comments, and 16 shares as of the time of the check.
Verification: The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has announced planned maintenance on the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable that will cause internet service disruptions from April 23-30, 2025.
According to Jarsea Burphy, LTA's Director of Public Affairs, the authority has authorized Orange Liberia and Squared to establish cross-border fiber-optic connections with operators in Côte d'Ivoire to maintain international internet connectivity during this period.
Both providers are required to offer access to other service providers on fair and reasonable terms to minimize service interruptions for end-users throughout Liberia.
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) is the national regulator for telecommunications in Liberia. It oversees network communications, issues licenses, manages spectrum, ensures fair competition, protects consumers, monitors service quality, develops infrastructure policies, manages international connectivity (including the ACE submarine cable), enforces regulations, and coordinates emergency communications.
Henry Benson, head of the Cable Consortium of Liberia, said they are advancing to the second phase of the infrastructure project at the PHP Sports Complex to reroute the optical fiber cable currently running beneath the sports stadium.
CCL emphasizes that such initiative is necessary after experiencing access difficulties during a shunt fault in August 2024, which they temporarily addressed while awaiting permanent solutions. “A vessel carrying specialized equipment will dock at the Free Port of Monrovia on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, with work commencing the following day and expected to last approximately eight days.”
“We assure the public that this is purely a technical upgrade with no political implications—we're simply replacing old infrastructure and creating more accessible routing to enhance our already robust network, which is among West Africa's finest. This project aims solely to strengthen Liberia's digital infrastructure and improve service quality for all citizens, contrary to any rumors suggesting political motivations,” he stated.
On April 2, 2025, when CCL along with LTA visited the PHP facility, the CCL head informed journalists that the contractor who built the PHP park did not consult with the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) before constructing the monument on the cable landing point. Because of this, access from the initial landing point needs to be rerouted for the pending repair work.
The head of the Cable Consortium of Liberia manages Liberia's connection to the ACE submarine cable, coordinates with international partners, oversees infrastructure investments, ensures reliable connectivity, plans maintenance, directs emergency responses, works with regulators, coordinates with ISPs, monitors performance, and represents Liberia in international telecommunications forums.
On April 22, 2025, Lonestar announced via their official Facebook page that from April 23 to April 28, the public may experience intermittent internet disruptions due to the rerouting of the ACE undersea cable. This essential maintenance work is part of a long-term initiative aimed at enhancing service reliability.
The project is spearheaded by the Cable Consortium Liberia (CCL) and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), with crucial support from Lonestar Cell MTN and other key stakeholders. Adding that the collaborative effort represents a proactive approach to addressing previous connectivity challenges and mitigating the risk of outages in the future.
Lonestar assured customers that comprehensive redundancy plans have been implemented to minimize any potential impact during this period.
Furthermore, the company expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and extended gratitude to subscribers for their patience and continued support as they work to deliver faster, more dependable internet services.
Conclusion: After a thorough investigation, we find Dabayou's claim to be FALSE. The internet disruptions scheduled for April 23-30, 2025, are due to planned maintenance on the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, as confirmed by multiple official sources, including the Liberia Telecommunication Authority, Cable Consortium of Liberia, and Lonestar Cell MTN.
The maintenance is part of a technical infrastructure upgrade to reroute the optical fiber cable and enhance service reliability, with no political motivations. Authorities have implemented measures, including cross-border fiber-optic connections, to minimize service interruptions during this period.
The maintenance is part of a technical infrastructure upgrade to reroute the optical fiber cable and enhance service reliability, with no political motivations. Authorities have implemented measures, including cross-border fiber-optic connections, to minimize service interruptions during this period.
