Libya was listed among the ten African countries most affected by internet shutdowns last year, after a single outage caused losses exceeding $1.3 million and disrupted access for around 1.3 million users, according to a new report.
The findings were published by Top10VPN, which said internet disruptions across Africa cost governments and businesses an estimated $1.11 billion in 2025. The continent recorded a total of 19,638 hours of internet shutdowns, affecting more than 116 million users.
In Libya’s case, the report attributed the losses to an 11-hour nationwide outage triggered by armed clashes in Tripoli. The disruption followed fighting between forces loyal to the Government of National Unity and the Stability Support Apparatus, followed by further confrontations involving the Radaa force. The shutdown significantly affected digital services, online businesses, banking transactions and daily communications.
Libya currently has around 6.62 million internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 88.5 percent. This marks an increase of 69,000 users compared with 2024. However, about 860,000 people, or 11.5 percent of the population, remain without internet access.
While Africa recorded a 29 percent decline in the overall economic cost of internet shutdowns compared with 2024, the total number of shutdown hours increased by 23 percent. The continent also topped global rankings for deliberate internet restrictions, with nine African countries imposing intentional disruptions during the year.
Regionally, Tanzania was the worst affected country, suffering losses of nearly $890 million after more than 5,400 hours of shutdowns. The Democratic Republic of Congo lost over $67 million following a 72-hour outage linked to fighting in eastern cities, while Sudan incurred losses of $66.6 million amid prolonged internet disruptions during ongoing conflict.
The report highlights how internet shutdowns in Libya continue to reflect the broader security challenges facing the country, with direct consequences for economic stability, public services and citizens’ daily lives.
