How internet shutdowns silently drain Africa’s economy
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Internet shutdowns are often seen as political tools, but their economic toll is just as severe. In my latest piece for the World Economic Forum, I explore how these disruptions are quietly draining Africa’s economy, threatening digital trade, SMEs, and long-term development.
👉 Read the full article here: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/how-internet-shutdowns-drain-african-economies/
What does it mean when the internet goes dark, not just for freedom of expression but also for livelihoods and markets? Here, I unpack recent data, real examples, and legal precedents and offer pathways forward.
I’d love to hear your thoughts; feel free to comment, share, or reach out.
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There is this general idea that, internet shutdown affects businesses, but we do not delve into the extent of the impact. I love the infographic that you have used that show the impact to the various sectors, A question, how hard was it to quantify the impact in terms of value? if that was even considered
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BIRIKA Naomi,Kenya,RITD for the value and the putting the economic impact in numbers, I used NetLoss Calculator, which is developed by ISOC. The tool uses an economic framework to estimate the impact of Internet shutdowns on a range of economic, social, and other outcomes and uses econometric tools to provide a rigorous and precise estimate of the economic impact of a given shutdown. The methodology relies on publicly available datasets to calculate the economic impact of an Internet shutdown. Using open datasets makes our methodology reproducible as well as transparent.
More info visit: https://pulse.internetsociety.org/en/netloss/
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SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA Thank you for the response
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This is an interesting topic. Thank you for sharing SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA
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A timely and well-argued concern. The framing of internet access as a foundational utility—essential for markets and development—is especially striking. It’s clear that protecting digital infrastructure must become a priority for long-term growth.
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Such a timely and important piece! Internet shutdowns are too often dismissed as short-term political measures, yet their ripple effects extend far deeper, stifling SMEs, disrupting cross-border trade, and undermining the very digital ecosystems Africa is working so hard to build under frameworks like the AfCFTA. As someone working at the intersection of technology, and development, I’ve seen how connectivity is not just about communication, it’s infrastructure for innovation, digital skills, financial inclusion, and market access. When the internet goes dark, it’s not only freedom of expression that suffers, but also the livelihoods of young entrepreneurs, farmers, and educators who rely on digital tools daily. Your call to think about legal precedents and pathways forward is especially critical. If Africa is serious about unlocking digital trade and positioning itself competitively in the global economy, safeguarding connectivity must be seen as both an economic imperative and a human right.
