Ethiopia: Internet service disrupted nationwide December 12

Event

According to local reports as of Tuesday, December 12, authorities are blocking internet across the country in the wake of violent clashes in the Oromia region. Users are reportedly unable to access Facebook and Twitter across the country, including in Addis Ababa. Additionally, regular internet service is reportedly unavailable in many areas. It is unclear when full internet service will be restored.

Context

The internet shutdown was reportedly taken by the government to prevent the organization of further protest in the Oromia region. Protests have broken out in recent days in response to the alleged killing of 15 demonstrators by security forces. The victims were reportedly killed when police were clearing out roadblocks set up by the demonstrators.

This is not the first time the internet and social media sites have been blocked nationwide. In June, 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.