⚠️ Update: Access to social media platforms has been restricted in Ethiopia

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The religious tension stops but  Access to social media platforms has been restricted in Ethiopia
 
Social media and messaging apps restricted in Ethiopia amid religious tensions 
 
Confirmed: Network metrics show that social media and messaging platforms Facebook, Messenger, TikTok and Telegram have been restricted in Ethiopia amid anti-government protests over a split in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado Church EOTC . At least 30 people have been killed in protests since Feb. 4, the church said in a statement on Thursday.
 

Access to social media platforms has been restricted in Ethiopia, Internet watchdog NetBlocks said, following violent protests sparked by a rift within the country's Orthodox Church.

The statement called for demonstrations on Sunday, accusing the Ethiopian government of "meddling" in the church's internal affairs after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asked his ministers to stay out of the dispute.

The Ethiopian state has traditionally maintained close ties to the Orthodox Church, to which more than 40% of the population adheres.

The protests broke out in the Oromia region when three church officials declared themselves archbishops last month and set up their own governing body. Some demonstrators have opposed their move while others have supported it.

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Network data confirm the restriction of Facebook, Telegram and TikTok in Ethiopia on Thursday 9 February 2023, with YouTube subsequently restricted on Friday. The incident comes amid anti-government protests sparked by tensions over an attempt to split the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado Church.

Real-time NetBlocks metrics indicate that Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram servers have been restricted on state internet provider Ethio Telecom, and YouTube added to the list on Friday after users switched over to that platform, with aggregated reachability statistics collected from an initial set of 20 vantage points. This class of disruption can be worked around using VPN services, which are able to circumvent government internet censorship measures.

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What’s happening in Ethiopia?

Protests relating to tensions over pressures on the EOTC have sparked wider anti-government sentiment. Ethiopia has an history of social media restrictions during protests, although authorities do not generally announce the measure.

NetBlocks recommends against the use of internet filtering due to its disproportionate impact on the public’s right to freely access and impart knowledge.


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