By Muluken Tekleyohanes | Ambassador Media
Ethiopia has been ranked as the number one country in Africa for frequent internet shutdowns — a move widely condemned as an assault on citizens’ fundamental rights.
The findings come from a new Bloomsbury-published study, “Internet Shutdowns in Africa,” authored by Felicia Antonio and Tony Roberts, which examined patterns of digital repression across the continent between 2016 and 2024. In total, 193 shutdowns were recorded in Africa during that period.
Ethiopia topped the list, shutting down the internet 30 times in the past year alone — far more than any other African country. Sudan, in the midst of civil war, ranked second with 21 shutdowns, while Algeria followed with 14.
The study found that while some African nations have never restricted internet access, Ethiopia has repeatedly weaponized shutdowns to control information and suppress dissent. The government has justified these blackouts by citing fears of civil unrest, conflict, and exam fraud. However, researchers stressed that the real motive has often been to silence political opposition and deny citizens their democratic rights.
The impact on Ethiopians has been devastating. Internet shutdowns have left communities cut off from vital information, restricted freedom of expression, and deepened the suffering of citizens during times of conflict and violence. The study noted that Ethiopia’s systematic approach to curtailing online freedoms represents one of the clearest examples of government-led digital authoritarianism on the continent.
“Internet shutdowns are not just a technical disruption — they are an attack on human rights,” the study warned, highlighting Ethiopia as a case where citizens’ freedoms have been consistently undermined by their own government.
As Ethiopia continues to lead Africa in cutting off its people from the digital world, international pressure is mounting on the government to respect basic freedoms and end its repeated attempts to silence its own citizens.