When and Why Do Governments in Africa and Elsewhere Routinely Shut Down the Internet on their Citizens?

In recent years, there has been a trend of African governments blocking internet access as a means of censorship. According to reports number of these incidences have been steadily increasing since 2017 and countries including Benin, Gabon, Eritrea, Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have experienced state-enforced internet shutdowns since 2016. In her ongoing research, Professor Dendere explores how social media, internet access and tech are wielded by governments to limit civil freedoms for citizens and what the implications are for African politics and society.

Bio

Dr. Dendere is an assistant professor of Political Science in the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College. Dr. Dendere received her doctorate in Political Science from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Dendere studies democratization, elections, and voting behavior in Africa, as well as the impact of social media on politics. She regularly provides commentary on African politics for CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and also writes for the public audience in various platforms. She is also originally from Zimbabwe.