UN reports that more than 300 incidents of government-enforced shutdowns have been recorded in over 54 countries in just the past two years
In the 21st century, democracy is meant to thrive on transparency, participation, and the free flow of information. Yet, a new cancer is eating away at its foundations: state-sponsored internet shutdowns. Once considered rare and extreme, these digital blackouts have become disturbingly routine. UNESCO reports that more than 300 incidents of government-enforced shutdowns have been recorded in over 54 countries in just the past two years. The year 2024 was the worst on record since monitoring began in 2016, and the trend has only worsened into 2026.
The metaphor of cancer is particularly apt in describing the phenomenon of state-imposed internet shutdowns. Like a malignant growth, these blackouts spread insidiously, metastasising across borders, weakening democratic institutions, and corroding public trust. They do not simply silence dissenting voices; they systematically suffocate economic activity, obstruct several rights linked to information, and erode the foundational principles of democratic governance. Shutdowns represent a profound violation of internationally recognized human rights norms, including the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and participation in public life as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Their indiscriminate nature undermines the principle of proportionality, affecting millions of individuals far beyond the purported security concerns invoked by governments. Moreover, these measures exacerbate structural inequalities by disproportionately harming marginalised communities who rely on digital platforms for civic engagement, economic survival, and access to essential services.
Africa has become the epicentre of this troubling phenomenon. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities cut internet access for weeks during the 2018 elections, at a time for results management and transmission, claiming it was necessary to prevent the spread of “fake news.” In reality, the blackout deprived millions of Congolese citizens of vital electoral information, obstructed their right to information and to participate meaningfully in public affairs, and fueled suspicion of fraud.
Ethiopia has repeatedly imposed sweeping shutdowns amid ethnic violence and political unrest, most notably in 2020 and 2023. These blackouts not only silenced activists but also disrupted humanitarian aid operations in conflict zones, worsening human suffering and violating the right to life and health protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).
Senegal, once hailed as a beacon of stability, shocked observers in 2023 when authorities restricted social media during protests against constitutional changes. The move undermined the country’s reputation as a democratic stronghold in West Africa and raised serious concerns about the erosion of freedom of assembly and association guaranteed under Article 11 of the African Charter.
Cameroon and Tanzania disrupted connectivity during their elections in 2025, following a growing trend of digital repression. Civil society groups condemned these tactics as deliberate attempts to suppress opposition voices and manipulate electoral outcomes, in direct violation of Article 9 of the ACHPR, which guarantees the right to receive information and express opinions freely. Uganda’s 2026 elections were then marred by a near-total internet blackout ordered by President Yoweri Museveni’s government. Citizens were denied access to opposition campaign messages, journalists were gagged, and businesses reliant on mobile money services suffered crippling losses.
The human cost of digital darkness is devastating. Hospitals struggle to contact doctors during emergencies, undermining the right to health. In Ethiopia, medical staff reported delays in coordinating care during violent clashes because communication lines were severed. Students lose access to online learning platforms, violating their right to education under Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Article 17 of the ACHPR. In Uganda, the blackout coincided with exam preparation, leaving thousands of young people stranded academically.
Small businesses dependent on mobile payments and online marketplaces suffer immediate losses, undermining the right to work and economic survival. In the DRC, traders reported losing weeks of income during the 2018 shutdown. Protesters cannot call for help during violent crackdowns, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and violations of the right to life and security of person, enshrined in Article 6 & 9 of the ICCPR. In Cameroon, activists described feeling “digitally strangled” as security forces dispersed demonstrations with no way to alert the outside world.
Shutdowns also fuel misinformation. When verified news sources are silenced, rumors and propaganda fill the vacuum. Citizens are left guessing, and trust in institutions collapses. This erosion of truth undermines the right to access information, a principle central to Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the ACHPR.
This cancer is not confined to Africa. Iran imposed a near-total blackout in January 2026 during renewed protests, crippling businesses and isolating citizens. In Afghanistan, the Taliban ordered a nationwide shutdown in late 2025, further constraining humanitarian operations and cutting women off from online education. Nepal suspended access to 26 social media platforms amid unrest in 2025, while Sri Lanka passed a law in 2024 granting sweeping powers to restrict online content. These cases demonstrate that shutdowns are not confined to authoritarian regimes. Even governments claiming democratic legitimacy resort to digital repression when threatened.
International human rights law is unequivocal: restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information must meet the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. Shutdowns fail on all three counts. Many are imposed without parliamentary approval or judicial oversight, violating constitutional guarantees and international obligations under the ICCPR and the ACHPR. Governments claim shutdowns prevent violence or misinformation, yet evidence shows they often exacerbate unrest by fueling suspicion and anger. Blanket shutdowns affect millions of innocent citizens, far beyond the intended targets, and rarely achieve their stated objectives.
The UN Human Rights Council Resolution 44/12 (2020) explicitly condemned internet shutdowns as disproportionate and inconsistent with states’ obligations under international law. Similarly, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (2019) affirms that states must refrain from disrupting access to the internet, particularly during elections and public protests. These instruments make clear that shutdowns are incompatible with democratic governance and human rights protection.
Shutdowns reveal a paradox at the heart of modern governance. Leaders invoke democracy while dismantling its foundations. They claim to protect citizens from “fake news” or “instability,” yet their actions betray a fear of accountability and transparency. In Africa, where mobile connectivity has revolutionized civic participation, shutdowns are especially destructive. Mobile money systems underpin economies, WhatsApp groups organize communities, and Twitter now X amplifies voices otherwise excluded from mainstream media. Cutting off the internet is not merely silencing dissent, it is erasing the lifeline of modern African society.
If shutdowns are the new cancer, then resistance must be the cure. Civil society, international organizations, and citizens must demand accountability. Constitutions should explicitly prohibit blanket shutdowns, ensuring that any restrictions are narrowly tailored and subject to judicial review. Regional bodies such as the African Union, through the ACHPR, must hold member states accountable for violations. International actors must impose diplomatic costs on governments that weaponise connectivity. Citizens and activists should invest in decentralized communication tools, VPNs, and satellite internet to bypass censorship. Businesses must highlight the financial devastation caused by shutdowns, pressuring governments to recognize the economic self-harm of digital repression. And Africa’s young population, digitally savvy and politically aware, must lead the charge against shutdowns. Their future depends on connectivity.
Internet shutdowns are not mere inconveniences; they are existential threats to democracy. They represent a deliberate strategy to silence citizens, obscure truth, and entrench authoritarianism. Africa, with its vibrant digital revolution, stands at a crossroads. Will it allow this cancer to metastasize, or will it resist and reclaim the promise of democracy? The world must recognise shutdowns for what they are: a digital weapon of mass repression. The fight against them is not just about connectivity, it is about the survival of democracy itself.
About the author:
Tendai Mbanje is a distinguished governance and elections scholar, widely recognised for his expertise in African electoral processes. His research and professional contributions focus on the role of the African Union and African Regional Economic Communities in fostering credible, transparent, and legitimate elections across the continent. Through his work, he critically examines the institutional frameworks and normative standards that underpin democratic governance in Africa. Mbanje writes in his personal capacity, offering independent insights informed by both academic rigor and practical experience.
