Internet was finally restored by the Ethiopian government on Thursday, following weeks of blanket shutdown as unrest punctured much of the East African nation. The blackout was deemed a vital national security measure by officials to quell mounting dissension, much to the chagrin of human rights organizations, journalists and freedom of speech advocates who condemned the crackdown. “First off, there is no legal ground for the government in Ethiopia to shut the Internet,” one journalist tweeted. Ethiopians have also taken to the streets across the U.S. in recent days, including in Washington, to call for peace in the country. More than 5,000 people accused of participating in acts of violence have been detained by Ethiopian government authorities.

Source: Ethiopian News July 24, 2020 13:41 UTC