AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE SHUT DOWN INTERNET

Globally, Access Now reports not just an increase in internet shutdowns, but also a “trend toward sustained and prolonged shutdowns” with 35 incidents of internet shutdowns lasting longer than seven days last year. Chad, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Mauritania, Sudan and Zimbabwe are among the 19 countries that fully or partially shuttered internet access for more than seven days. Chad’s shutdown was, by far, the longest as social media apps were blocked for a record of 16 months starting in 2018.

In most cases, under the guise of security, governments simply want to hamper opposition leaders from organizing protests or riling up citizens about their policy decisions. A fair number of internet shutdowns or social media blocks also happen around elections.

African countries that witnessed internet shutdowns 

Algeria

Ethiopia 

sudan

Benin

Cameroon

Congo

Zimbabwe

Liberia

mauritana 

Gabon

Eritrea

Chad

Egypt

Malawi