Uganda Cuts Internet, Western Condemnation Surprisingly Muted
Al Jazeera reports that Uganda has, predictably, cut off internet access days before a presidential election where strongman Yoweri Museveni seeks his seventh term. This is a classic move by authoritarian regimes looking to stifle dissent and control narratives, yet the Western media's moral indignation meter seems to be stuck on low. One might wonder if the outcry would be louder if, say, Iran or
Venezuela attempted such a maneuver. The U.S. State Department merely issued a tepid statement about 'deep concern' for the 'integrity' of the election. This muted response stands in stark contrast to the thunderous condemnations typically reserved for nations not aligned with Western strategic interests. Perhaps Uganda's role as a regional 'stabilizing force' (read: recipient of significant
military aid) allows for certain inconvenient truths to be overlooked.