Africa Lost $1.5 Billion To Internet And Social Media Shutdowns In 2024

Sub-Saharan African countries lost $1.5 billion to internet shutdowns in 2024, according to data by Top10VPN.

Deliberate internet outages and social media shutdowns globally led to a $7.69 billion loss. While Pakistan and Myanmar were most affected, 19% of the economic cost of internet shutdowns total came from Africa.

The cost of internet shutdowns

Globally, worldwide internet shutdowns have been decreasing since 2022 ($24.61 billion to $7.69 billion), however many countries across the globe still suffer from this form of internet censorship.

In 2024, 28 internet shutdowns occurred in 28 countries, 13 of which came from Africa. Those countries were Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal, Mozambique, Chad, Mauritius, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea.

Sudan was the African country that lost the most money, with $1.12 billion lost to over 12,707 hours (529 days) of internet shutdowns.

What was the leading cause of internet shutdowns in Africa?

The ongoing conflict in Sudan was the leading cause of internet shutdowns in Africa last year.

With over 10 million Sudanese displaced, Amnesty International urged the SAF and RSF to stop cutting internet access, calling it a vital lifeline for civilians.

“This blackout is affecting already vulnerable populations who have had to endure conflict for close to a year now,” the organization stated in March 2024. “Without communication, humanitarian operations and emergency services are likely to grind to a complete halt, putting millions of lives at risk.”

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The internet was also shut down in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia due to protests. Subsequently, both countries lost $75 million and $211 million. The lack of internet caused more problems in Kenya with the Finance Bill protest, which led to several arrests of protesters and injuries.