Ethiopia: Internet service restored April 6 /update 1

Event

Mobile internet was restored on Friday, April 6, five months after service was blocked across the country in December 2017. The Ethiopian government has not explained the reason for the blackout nor has it given a reason for the mobile internet restoration, but it comes after newly sworn-in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised to bring about reform in the country.

Context

On December 12, 2017, authorities blocked internet access across the country, restricting access to social media site such as Facebook and Twitter. The internet shutdown was reportedly ordered by the government to prevent the organization of further protest in the Oromia region. This was not the first time the government blocked internet access nationwide; in June 2017 the government blocked access to various sites during university exams, claiming the move was intended to prevent students from cheating.

Internet censorship is prevalent in Ethiopia and opposition blogs and human rights websites are often blocked. Traditional media outlets in the country are tightly controlled by the government, which makes social media a particularly valuable tool for citizens to access and share information critical of the authorities.

Advice

Individuals present in Ethiopia are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid all potential protests due to the possibility of violence.