Ethiopia’s social media landscape has come back to life as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are unblocked after a prolonged five-month shutdown.
The Open Observatory of Network Interference confirmed the restoration of access, signaling the end of a period of online censorship that began in February.
Ethiopians can now freely access popular social media platforms without the need for VPN tools, enabling seamless communication, networking, and marketing.
The return of these platforms brings relief to individuals and businesses that heavily rely on social media.
After months of limited online communication, Ethiopian citizens are reconnecting with friends, family, and online communities.
They can once again engage in discussions, share stories, and access the information and entertainment available on these platforms.
However, Ethiopia has a history of internet restrictions and limitations on online freedoms.
Past governments interrupted connectivity in response to protests, and the recent two-year-long telecommunications blackout in Tigray raised concerns.
While the government has not officially commented on the social media shutdown, human rights organisations highlight its connection to calls for street protests.
