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How internet shutdowns silently drain Africa’s economy

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< data-emotion="wef gbfd2a">.chakra .wef-gbfd2a{object-fit:cover;object-position:cover;width:100%;} Illustrative photo of an individual in africa searching the internet on their smartphone.

Illustrative photo of an individual in africa searching the internet on their smartphone.

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Illustrative photo of an individual in africa searching the internet on their smartphone. Image: Olimude Bamgbelu/Unsplash

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Internet shutdowns are silently crippling high-potential sectors in Africa by disrupting digital trademobile payments and SME operations.
These shutdowns deter investorsreduce trust in digital services and widen inequality.
Legal safeguardstransparent protocolsmultistakeholder governance and resilient infrastructure are essential to protect digital rights and economic growth.

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In an increasingly digitized Africaturning off the internet doesn’t just silence voicesit bleeds economies and undermines the continent’s progress towards inclusive growth. Internet shutdowns – defined as intentional disruptions of the internet or electronic communications imposed to control information flows – are becoming an increasingly common policy tool across Africa.

While the full economic toll of shutdowns is difficult to measure preciselycredible models such as the Internet Society’s NetLoss Calculator demonstrate that even brief disruptions can inflict substantial costs on national economies. Shutdowns disrupt e-commercestall cross-border paymentsparalyse mobile money transactionsand cut off millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and informal businesses that rely on digital platforms for survival.

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Discover

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< data-emotion="wef 1tj8f8n">.chakra .wef-1tj8f8n{line-height:var(--chakra-lineHeights-base);color:inherit;}How the Forum helps leaders connect frontier technologies to real-world challenges

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The Centre for Frontier Technologies and Innovation brings together scientistspolicymakers and business leaders to make sense of emerging technologies and their real-world implications.

By enabling collaboration and experimentationthe Centre helps partners translate innovation from research into practical applications that address shared global challenges.

Discover the Centre’s work

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The digital economy’s rising stakes

As Africa’s digital economy continues to growthese disruptions represent an escalating threat to financial stability and long-term development. With 500 million online shoppers already connected by 2025Africa’s e-commerce market is projected to reach $940 billion in value by 2032. The continent is also positioning itself as a digital services exporter. This is expected to reach $74 billion by 2040while the cross-border payments market is forecast to hit $1 trillion by 2035. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is designed to boost this momentum by promoting digital inclusion and trade connectivity.

At the heart of this transformation are millions of SMEsmany operating in informal markets and relying on mobile moneysocial media and digital tools to sellcommunicate and grow. But these gains are fragile. Without reliableuninterrupted internet accessprogress can quickly unravel.

A costly switch: shutdowns and economic paralysis

Internet shutdowns affect every layer of the economyfrom tech hubs in Nairobi to informal markets in Conakry. One of the most visibly disrupted sectors is e-commercewhere transactions rely on real-time connectivity to manage ordersinventory and payments. When connectivity vanishesso does business activity. Even brick-and-mortar retail businesses suffer as many now rely on internet-connected point-of-sale systems.

The impact on SMEs is equally severe. In Africa’s emerging digital ecosystemmany SMEs and informal businesses have embraced tools like WhatsAppFacebook Marketplace and Instagram to reach customersmanage sales and promote services. With limited access to alternative infrastructure or financial reservesa shutdown can mean a complete halt in operations or even closures.

In the financial and trade sectorsinternet outages affect everything from mobile money transactions to cross-border logistics. Payment processors go offlinebanks become unreachable and regional supply chains unravel. For a continent increasingly reliant on digital solutionsthis creates both short-term losses and long-term strategic setbacks.

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Who Suffers Most When the Internet Goes Dark? Image: World Economic Forum

While GDP losses are the most visible consequence of internet shutdownstheir hidden costs run deeper and may be more damaging in the long term.

Firstshutdowns erode public trust in institutions. When governments use connectivity as a lever of controlcitizens begin to question the reliability of digital servicesespecially in critical sectors like bankinghealthcareand education. This not only affects adoption ratesbut also undermines the broader digitalisation agenda many countries are pursuing.

Secondthe climate of regulatory uncertainty deters foreign and domestic investment. Investors in sectors like finteche-commerceand digital infrastructure require stability and predictability. Frequent or politically motivated shutdowns signal riskincreasing capital costs and often leading investors to redirect funds to lower risk markets.

Thirdthere is the long-term risk of digital poverty. When access to informationmarkets and online learning platforms is repeatedly disruptedpeople and businesses fall behind. Inconsistent connectivity widens inequalityespecially among youthrural communities and women entrepreneurs.

This undermines years of progress in digital literacyeconomic inclusion and innovation. Collaboration between startupsuniversities and tech hubs often occurs through cloud-based platforms and real-time communications. Cutting off access interrupts this dynamic ecosystem and reduces the continent’s global competitiveness in emerging technologies.

How much are shutdowns costing us?

The NetLoss Calculatordeveloped by the Internet Societyoffers an economic framework to estimate the impact of internet shutdowns based on intentionaltechnically verifiableand wide-scale disruptions. While specific national loss figures may varythe methodology demonstrates that even short-term shutdowns can lead to millions of dollars in losses.

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Have you read?

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An Action Plan to Accelerate Global Business and Investment in Africa
AfCFTA: A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa
The Future of Jobs and Skills in Africa: Preparing the Region for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Is there a way forward?

A true solution will require political willlegal accountability and inclusive collaboration.

Encouraginglyrecent legal decisions in Africa suggest a shift toward stronger digital rights protections. In May 2025the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that Senegal’s internet shutdown during the June–July 2023 protests was unlawful and violated citizens' rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Days laterKenya’s High Court issued an injunction prohibiting the government from arbitrarily disrupting internet servicessetting a precedent for constitutional oversight.

These rulings mark a growing judicial acknowledgement that internet access is essential for modern life. To move forwardAfrican governments and stakeholders must act on this momentum.

Four priority actions stand out:

1. Codify legal safeguards against arbitrary or politically motivated internet shutdownsensuring due process and rights-based justifications.

2. Develop transparent emergency protocols that preserve national security without compromising digital connectivity or economic continuity.

3. Foster multistakeholder governancebringing together civil societyprivate sector actors and technical experts to inclusively shape digital policies.

4. Invest in infrastructure resilience to mitigate the impact of localised disruptions and ensure broader digital inclusion.

By taking these stepsAfrican nations can reinforce both digital freedoms and economic stabilitybuilding a future where the internet is protectednot weaponized.

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Turning the lights back on

Africa’s digital economy is no longer a distant aspiration – it is a defining feature of the present. Disrupting iteven brieflyamounts to economic self-harm.

As digital tradeonline services and mobile payments become pillars of economic activity across the continentsafeguarding internet access must be treated as a strategic economic imperative.

Have you read?

What role will private equity play in Africa’s AI future?

To thrive in the Fourth Industrial RevolutionAfrica must regard the internet the same way it does electricity or water: a foundational utility essential for inclusive growthresilience and long-term prosperity.

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Cybersecurity

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< data-emotion="wef pw060m">.chakra .wef-pw060m{width:100%;max-width:90rem;margin-inline-start:auto;margin-inline-end:auto;padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-base);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-base);padding-top:var(--chakra-space-large);padding-bottom:var(--chakra-space-large);}@media screen and (min-width: 56.5rem){.chakra .wef-pw060m{padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-large);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-large);padding-top:var(--chakra-space-2xl);padding-bottom:var(--chakra-space-2xl);}}@media screen and (min-width: 90rem){.chakra .wef-pw060m{padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-3xl);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-3xl);}}

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< data-emotion="wef 1dtnjt5">.chakra .wef-1dtnjt5{display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;}
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< data-emotion="wef 1ugksho">.chakra .wef-1ugksho{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5rem;letter-spacing:1.3px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;color:var(--chakra-colors-greyLight);}.chakra .wef-1ugksho:focus-visible,.chakra .wef-1ugksho[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.chakra .wef-1ugksho:hover,.chakra .wef-1ugksho[data-hover]{text-decoration:none;}See all

< data-emotion="wef 1fertmg">.chakra .wef-1fertmg{width:100%;max-width:90rem;margin-inline-start:auto;margin-inline-end:auto;padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-base);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-base);padding-top:var(--chakra-space-0);padding-bottom:var(--chakra-space-0);}@media screen and (min-width: 56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1fertmg{padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-large);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-large);}}@media screen and (min-width: 90rem){.chakra .wef-1fertmg{padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-3xl);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-3xl);}}

< data-emotion="wef 18lbtgg">.chakra .wef-18lbtgg{display:grid;grid-gap:var(--chakra-space-space-200);grid-row-gap:var(--chakra-space-base);grid-template-columns:repeat(41fr);width:100%;max-width:90rem;margin-inline-start:auto;margin-inline-end:auto;}@media screen and (min-width: 37.5rem){.chakra .wef-18lbtgg{grid-template-columns:repeat(81fr);}}@media screen and (min-width: 56.5rem){.chakra .wef-18lbtgg{grid-gap:var(--chakra-space-space-300);grid-row-gap:var(--chakra-space-3xl);grid-template-columns:repeat(121fr);}}

< data-emotion="wef qrllub">.chakra .wef-qrllub{grid-column:span 12/span 12;}

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< data-emotion="wef 10y3jra">.chakra .wef-10y3jra{padding:var(--chakra-space-small);}@media screen and (min-width: 37.5rem){.chakra .wef-10y3jra{padding:var(--chakra-space-base);}}@media screen and (min-width: 56.5rem){.chakra .wef-10y3jra{padding:var(--chakra-space-medium);}}

< data-emotion="wef tygrvl">.chakra .wef-tygrvl{position:relative;height:100%;width:calc(56.25% - 0.5625rem);z-index:1;}

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< data-emotion="wef 1ey2a2v">.chakra .wef-1ey2a2v{position:absolute;top:var(--chakra-space-0);left:var(--chakra-space-0);width:100%;height:100%;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-black);z-index:0;}.chakra .wef-1ey2a2v div{filter:blur(14px);transform:scale(1.4);}

< data-emotion="wef bv69nn">.chakra .wef-bv69nn{opacity:0.8;}

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< data-emotion="wef bbeb4l">.chakra .wef-bbeb4l{overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-0);display:-webkit-box;-webkit-line-clamp:2;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;}

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