Internet Disruption: Reports reveal thirteen countries affected, Ivory Coast severely hit
By Charity Nginyu
Recent data from Netblocks.org has shed light on a widespread internet disruption across South, East, and West Africa, impacting a total of thirteen countries.
Among these nations, Ivory Coast emerges as severely affected, with four others—Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso—experiencing high levels of disruption.
Cameroon according to statistics finds itself among those experiencing medium levels of disruption, alongside Togo, Gabon, Namibia, and Niger.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa are said to experience disruptions at a lower level.
The situation, attributed to a cable failure on the West Africa Cable System, has prompted urgent rerouting measures by Dimension Data, a prominent provider in South Africa.
However, these efforts have encountered setbacks as the alternative route via the Seacom line is also saturated due to damages to Seacom’s own undersea cable.
Complicating matters further, repair efforts in the Red Sea, critical for restoring connectivity, face delays as authorization for maintenance may take up to eight weeks to obtain. The delay prolongs the agony for businesses, individuals, and essential services already battling with the consequences of severed internet connections.
The repercussions of this disruption can be felt across various sectors, including finance, education, healthcare, and communication. Businesses that rely on online transactions and communication platforms have recently faced significant hurdles, while Healthcare services, dependent on telemedicine and online consultations, encounter challenges in reaching patients and delivering essential care.
