Governments across Africa are increasingly using internet shutdowns as a tool of control, restricting access to digital communication, financial transactions, and independent media. A new report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition reveals that 21 internet shutdowns were recorded across 15 African nations in 2024, making it the worst year for digital repression on the continent. Critics argue that these blackouts are being weaponized, cutting off millions of people from vital information, economic opportunities, and their fundamental right to free expression.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The weaponization of internet access is a growing concern worldwide, but Africa has emerged as a hotspot for politically motivated shutdowns. Governments are increasingly cutting off internet access during elections, protests, and periods of civil unrest, using digital blackouts to silence dissent and prevent mass mobilization.
Countries including Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Burundi, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, and Kenya have been identified as repeat offenders, with additional shutdowns occurring in Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania. The report highlights that in some instances, militias and non-state actors are also involved in orchestrating shutdowns, deepening concerns about the widespread use of internet blackouts as a tool for repression.
Telecommunication companies have also been complicit in these shutdowns, with many bowing to government pressure to cut off access. Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager at #KeepItOn, criticized telecom operators for failing to resist these orders, arguing that such actions directly violate human rights. She pointed to the UN’s guiding principles on business and human rights, which require telecom companies to protect digital freedoms rather than comply with oppressive policies.
Global Internet Shutdowns at a Record High
The surge in internet blackouts isn’t limited to Africa. According to Access Now, 2024 witnessed 296 internet shutdowns across 54 countries, surpassing the 283 shutdowns recorded in 39 countries the previous year. The organization warns that this troubling trend signals an increasing reliance on digital repression by authoritarian regimes and fragile democracies alike.
Since 2016, Access Now has tracked 1,754 government-ordered internet shutdowns worldwide, restricting millions of people from accessing critical communication channels, financial services, and emergency aid. Many of these blackouts occur during elections, political protests, or military conflicts, raising alarms over the long-term erosion of digital rights.
Long-Term Shutdowns Devastate Communities
Some of Africa’s most severe internet restrictions have lasted for over a year, inflicting deep damage on economies, businesses, education, and freedom of expression. By early 2025, Meta’s social media platforms remained inaccessible in Uganda despite ongoing negotiations with the government. Meanwhile, residents of Annobón, an island in Equatorial Guinea, have been cut off from internet and mobile services since August 2024 following protests over government neglect and environmental issues.
The Fight for Digital Rights in Africa
In response to these widespread digital blackouts, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) passed a historic resolution in March 2024, condemning government-imposed internet shutdowns and calling for greater accountability. However, while this resolution represents a step forward in the fight for digital rights, its impact has been limited, as shutdowns have continued before, during, and after elections.
Despite these challenges, civil society groups and digital rights activists continue to push for transparency and policy reforms. Some governments, such as those in Mauritius and South Sudan, have already reversed shutdown orders in 2025, indicating that persistent advocacy is beginning to create change. The ACHPR resolution remains a powerful tool for challenging digital repression, but experts warn that without stronger enforcement mechanisms, internet shutdowns will continue to be weaponized by oppressive regimes.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The weaponization of internet access in Africa poses an ongoing threat to democracy, human rights, and economic development. While international organizations, advocacy groups, and digital rights coalitions are working to challenge these blackouts, many governments remain unapologetic in using internet shutdowns as a political control. The future of digital rights on the continent will depend on consistent global pressure, legal challenges, and the willingness of telecom companies to resist government-imposed restrictions. Without intervention, millions will continue to face disruptions to communication, financial losses, and an erosion of their fundamental freedoms.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech