Internet shutdown is beginning to become a norm in some parts of Africa. DR Congo, Algeria, Sudan, Benin cut off internet connectivity to Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook during elections and anti-government protest. Even the citizens of Chad have not had access to internet connectivity for over a year. Somalia recently joined the queue and cut off internet access in the country in a bid to shun exam malpractice in the country. Earlier in the week, Liberia also shut down internet access in the country to over anti-government protest.
Ethiopia has however blocked internet access in a move to prevent exam malpractice within the country. Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s internet provider confirmed to BBC Amharic that it has no mandate to comment on the issue. According to ETV reports, four students were caught cheating after exchanging text messages. Ethiopia has been without access for four days since the 11th of June 2019. It has been estimated that is internet shutdown could cause the country between 0.4% to 1% of its GDP.
According to NetBlocks—an internet rights monitoring group, the shutdown is on its third day.
Confirmed: Internet has been totally cut across #Ethiopia as an apparent measure intended to prevent cheating during national exams; incident ongoing #KeepItOn 📉https://t.co/AZASjIdHLe pic.twitter.com/OT74L63I4J
— NetBlocks @ RightsCon (@netblocks) June 11, 2019
The group also wrote on their website that Ethiopia’s internet was totally cut off as early as 7:30 am on 11th June 2019. It was restored by 12:30 pm the same day but was however disconnected hours later and was restored by 6:30 am on the 12th of June 2019. However, the restored service was not usable.
See also: Facebook Shuts Down the User Accounts Manipulating Politics in West African Countries
Update: #Ethiopia is offline again following a brief return of connectivity, as authorities cut internet access nationwide in a bid prevent cheating during secondary school final exams; incident ongoing #KeepItOn 📉https://t.co/AZASjIdHLe pic.twitter.com/PtUSFSgHSb
— NetBlocks @ RightsCon (@netblocks) June 12, 2019
The internet was cut off again on the 13th of June with about 10% connectivity left.
Update: #Ethiopia is offline for a third day, with internet access cut again in an attempt prevent cheating during secondary school final exams — this time some 10% of connectivity has been left working; incident ongoing #KeepItOn 📉https://t.co/AZASjIdHLe pic.twitter.com/Dvh34glCaq
— NetBlocks @ RightsCon (@netblocks) June 13, 2019
The group up so updated that Ethiopia’s internet is officially off for the fourth day with about 12% of the internet left on.
Update: #Ethiopia remains offline for a fourth day, the current disruption in its third consecutive day, in an apparent bid to stop cheating during secondary school final exams — some 12% of connectivity has been left working; incident ongoing #KeepItOn 📉https://t.co/AZASjIdHLe pic.twitter.com/j7RwRhfNgo
— NetBlocks @ RightsCon (@netblocks) June 14, 2019
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