Ethiopia has been ranked the lowest among 17 African countries in the “Freedom on the Net 2024” report by Freedom House, scoring just 27 out of 100 and classified as “Not Free.”
The report cites severe internet restrictions, government-imposed shutdowns, and censorship targeting online journalists, often justified by ongoing conflict and security issues in the country.
The report also highlights how governments in conflict zones like Ethiopia and Sudan frequently disrupt internet access, citing national security concerns.
Sudan and Egypt, both scoring 28, were just ahead of Ethiopia.
In contrast, South Africa topped the list with 74 points, rated as “Free,” while Kenya and Uganda scored 62 and 53, respectively.
According to the report, 16 of the 17 African countries assessed had cases where users were detained or arrested for their online posts, with physical attacks also recorded in nine nations.
Ethiopia’s frequent internet shutdowns have had a significant economic impact.
A 2023 report from the Center for Rights and Democracy (CARD) noted that the country lost around $1.59 billion due to prolonged outages, while another study ranked Ethiopia second worldwide for economic losses from internet restrictions, estimating a total loss of $1.9 billion in 2023, largely due to shutdowns in conflict-affected regions like Tigray and Amhara.