In 2024, internet outages cost sub-Saharan Africa nearly $1.5 billion, according to a report from Top10VPN. These losses represent 19% of the $7.69 billion in global losses due to these outages. A total of 28 internet shutdowns were reported across 13 African countries, led by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Algeria.
Sudan was particularly affected, losing $1.12 billion alone due to an outage that lasted more than 529 cumulative days. This phenomenon is directly linked to internal armed conflicts, notably the civil war which resulted in more than 13,000 deaths and displaced 10 million people.
Internet shutdowns in Africa are often linked to crisis contexts. In Ethiopia, anti-government protests led to disruptions costing the country $211 million. In Kenya, protests against a finance bill to raise taxes led to temporary cuts, with losses estimated at $75 million. These cuts, intended to restrict organizing via social media, have exacerbated tensions and intensified protests.
The contrast is stark with other regions of the world such as Asia, where internet shutdowns in 2024 have mainly been driven by elections.
Despite an overall reduction in losses from internet shutdowns (from $24.61 billion in 2022 to $7.69 billion in 2024), Africa remains one of the hardest hit regions. These cuts not only affect national economies, but they also compromise access to information and the security of citizens, particularly in contexts of humanitarian crisis.
