dakar rapidly expand access internet across africa help grassroots opposition movements take once-invulnerable regimes many entrench rulers simple response pull plug countries middle east china employ firewalls block virtual private network control web access leaders africa increasingly prefer blunt instrument outright outages critics say infringe right individuals also undermine burgeon economies world poor countries since start 2016 governments 13 african nations intentionally shut internet 21 occasion mainly elections protest accord database run online right group access compare seven shutdowns previous two years early month tech entrepreneur sama tanya saw cameroonian police fire teargas residential build protest country english-speaking minority choke women children pour onto street consider document crackdown share social media realize internet connection cut even reach family tell worry share thing say telephone city buea epicenter demonstrations right group internet without border say cut access violation international law defy july 2016 u.n. resolution affirm right people offline must also protect online internet freedom decline worldwide sixth straight year 2016 accord annual report freedom house africa become new test grind authoritarian practice online say francois patuel west africa researcher amnesty international see disruptions togo countries also arrest people say online often people say online use court internet cut africa date back 2011 arab spring rulers egypt tunisia libya seek control spread information today intent methods evolve governments slow internet speed reduce bandwidth throttle target shut certain urls like facebook twitter whatsapp process know filter although free apps like vpn monster turbo vpn circumvent filter use vpns mask location computer phone even vpn help internet connection first place gabon shut internet access several days last year violent street protest erupt president ali bongo contest re-election likely require flip virtual switch state-run gabon telecom gabon communications minister bilie-by-nze acknowledge reuters interview internet access disrupt decline comment elections gambia december government order shutdown internet land point central point service supply whole country accord two people knowledge decision togo authorities appear organize mobile data shutdown opposition protest president faure gnassingbe last month accord people say fix internet line remain available certain people post image amplify situation publish photos horror togo security minister colonel damehame yark tell reporters early month government decide cut internet protect population democratic republic congo ask telecommunications company block social media network december providers decline comment time whether would comply one industry executive say company sign agreement respect national security injunctions sovereign government give license telecoms company company little choice comply government demand say doug madory director internet analysis oracle dyn monitor international internet traffic flow orange airtel provide service countries shutdowns respond request comment story mtn continent top mobile phone operator provide link company statement outline dedication internet freedom decline comment outages may aim political opponents social disruptors businesses crucial africa economic growth get also catch crackdown sub-saharan africa internet shutdowns cost region 237 million economic losses since 2015 accord recent report uk government-funded collaboration international ict policy east southern africa shutdowns adversely affect livelihoods citizens undermine profitability business enterprises reduce gdp competitiveness countries implement report say etta ayuk small tech start-up skylabase provide software bank lose three major clients 20,000 worth business internet shut january april anglophone cameroon force fire nearly half employees outage ayuk remain staff cram onto bus every morning 70-km 44-mile drive francophone cameroon commercial capital douala use internet gridlock often make three-hour trip way cameroon government decline repeat request comment ayuk consider rebasing gambia government shutdown since adama barrow become president january 2017. barrow encourage internet start-ups child cameroon want leave say political situation support us african rulers weapon web-based dissent switch