Africa’s Internet Shutdown Economy: The Hidden Costs and Who Pays the Price
Across Africa, the deliberate disruption of internet and mobile network access, often orchestrated by state authorities, is becoming an alarming norm. Data from Access Now and the KeepItOn coalition reveals a sharp escalation, with 21 shutdowns documented across 15 African nations in 2024 alone, far exceeding figures from previous years. This stark trend underscores a concerning pattern: the weaponisation of digital access during periods of protest, national elections, conflict, or widespread social unrest, fundamentally impacting tech innovation and civic space on the continent.
The Staggering Economic and Human Toll of Digital Blackouts
These government-imposed digital blackouts vary significantly in their scope, ranging from targeted blocks on specific social media platforms to comprehensive, region-wide outages of broadband services. Regardless of their scale, the repercussions extend far beyond the inability to send a message or post online. Globally, the economic fallout from internet disruptions is monumental, reaching an estimated $7.69 billion in 2024. This figure stems from 167 major disruptions spanning 28 countries, affecting close to 650 million individuals worldwide. Alarmingly, 2024 also recorded the highest number of disrupted hours ever, totalling 88,788 hours of digital darkness. For African economies specifically, the financial burden is substantial, with shutdowns between 2015 and 2017 alone costing approximately $237 million, crippling commerce, education, and essential services.
The escalating frequency of internet shutdowns in Africa highlights a critical challenge to human rights, economic development, and digital inclusion. As nations increasingly resort to these Draconian measures to control narratives and suppress dissent, it is ordinary citizens, businesses, and the broader economy that ultimately bear the immense and often irreparable costs. The price paid for these digital blackouts is not just monetary but also deeply impacts freedom of expression, access to information, and trust in governance.
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