…Nigeria records 222 days of social media blackouts
More than 6.1 billion people worldwide have been affected by internet shutdowns since 2015, according to new data from the Internet Shutdown Tracker, which draws on findings from watchdog group NetBlocks, as well as NGO and media reports.
The report names 84 countries that have, at least once in the past decade, restricted citizens’ access to the internet or social media as a political tool.
The tracker shows that internet blackouts have become a common tactic for governments during periods of political unrest, protests, or elections, actions experts say undermine democracy, disrupt economies, and violate digital rights.
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Africa’s digital clampdown
Asia leads globally in internet shutdowns, as 9 out of 10 people in Asia have been affected since 2015, with India and Jammu & Kashmir alone responsible for more than 71 percent of Asia’s cases.
Africa emerges as the second most intensive region for internet disruptions. Since 2015, 8 in 10 Africans, representing 1.27 billion people, or 83.6 percent of the continent’s population, have been hit by some form of internet shutdown. The continent recorded 142 disruptions in the period, with protests accounting for half of them (71 cases), followed by elections (31 cases) and other political turmoil (39 cases).
Five African countries, Mozambique, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, and Tanzania, are currently enforcing restrictions on social media or messaging apps. Mozambique tops the list, blocking Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, and WhatsApp.
Nigeria’s shutdown record
In Nigeria, network connection has been restricted at least once in the past decade, with the longest single blackout lasting about 24 hours. The country has recorded at least two major nationwide internet disruptions since 2015, lasting an average of 111.5 days each.
Social media and messaging platforms have also been targeted. Nigerians have experienced at least one social media blackout, with restrictions lasting a cumulative 222 days, by far one of the longest totals in Africa. The most high-profile example was the suspension of Twitter (now X) between June 2021 and January 2022, following a dispute between the government and the platform over content moderation.
Global picture
Asia leads globally, with nine in ten people in the region having suffered internet restrictions since 2015. India and its administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir alone account for more than 71 percent of recorded cases in Asia. Europe’s numbers remain relatively low, but Russia and Belarus dominate the region’s shutdown incidents.
North America has seen 13 cases, with Cuba responsible for most of them, while South America has recorded 47 shutdowns, affecting 60 percent of its population. Oceania is the only region with no recorded internet shutdowns in the past decade.
Rights groups alarmed
The new data comes amid fresh warnings from African digital rights advocates in Africa about rising threats to online freedoms during critical democratic periods.
With Tanzania’s general elections set for October 28, 2025, Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) executive director said the country was witnessing a shrinking digital civic space due to the ongoing blockage of X (formerly Twitter) and the suspension of Mwananchi Communications’ online platforms in October 2024.
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“Such actions, especially during an election year, undermine access to credible information, restrict public participation, and weaken democratic accountability,” Sesan said.
Asha Abinallah, chief executive director of Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), warned that despite reforms like new electoral laws and political reconciliation, persistent repression, such as content takedowns, network restrictions, and harassment of journalists, poses “a real threat to a fair and inclusive digital electoral process.”
Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru, PIN’s East Africa programmes officer, cited Tanzania’s obligations under African Union frameworks, urging respect for principles on free expression, equitable media access, and inclusive civic education. PIN and TMC’s joint recommendations include restoring full access to X, ending arbitrary online takedowns, and guaranteeing press and civic freedoms online and offline.
In Kenya, a coalition of seven civil society groups, including ICJ Kenya, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), PIN, and the Law Society of Kenya, has filed a landmark public interest case challenging unlawful internet restrictions during the 2023 #RejectFinanceBill protests and the 2024 national exams.
Eric Mukoya, executive director, ICJ Kenya, condemned the escalating use of digital repression to silence dissent, stressing Kenya’s obligations under African and international human rights law.
Kennedy Kachwanya, chairperson, Bloggers Association of Kenya, added; “The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for millions of Kenyans who rely on unimpeded connectivity for livelihoods, education, and civic engagement.”
