Africa Online

By Tim McGuinness Ph.D. on January 31st, 2008

The heat rises as Africa explores the world-wide-web. The world’s poorest continent is, not surprisingly, also its least wired. With the introduction of online access also came the opening of the doors to learning. By prying open the stranglehold that repressive regimes once held on the news, it has become, in the hands of ingenious Africans, a powerful tool for democratization and even disaster relief.

Only five percent of Africans have access to the Internet, compared with the global population’s average of 22 percent. Ethiopia is among the first few counties has gained access to the Internet. However, web usage in Africa has exploded almost nine fold since 2000 based on research studies from experts. As 2008 starts a new chapter, Africa offers its usual dizzying mix of success stories and wrenching tragedies as most of its people get the hang of blogging.

Unfortunately, some countries’ increasingly authoritarian regime was accused of blocking critical sites since last year. Sites containing information that might compromise the status of the regime mysteriously disappear. The government insists that it is mostly a problem with server’s capacity. However, an effort from the OpenNet Initiative, an international organization that monitors Web censorship, uncovered evidence that it is due to “substantial filtering” of the Internet.

Various militant parties implemented action plans to re-gain full access to online information and freedom of expression. Ethiopians, for instance, resort to the use of foreign-based servers. Some opposition supporters have used simple phone text messaging brigade to conjure instant rallies to intimidate the government.

One thought that both the government and its people have to take note of is the dead cliché that information is man’s most powerful tool. With it, he can either help or harm. By opening Africa’s eyes through the Internet, the government can either improve its nation’s status or risk its position. On the other side, the people can opt to use their new-found knowledge to help build a nation or to destroy it. It is a choice that both sides must make.