After a five-month hiatus, Ethiopia has reinstated access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, according to a BBC report on Wednesday.
The social media blackout, which began on February 9, 2023, was a response to a dispute between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the government. During the blackout, only those with virtual private network software, which required additional bandwidth, could access social media.
The Orthodox Church experienced a division in February when several archbishops from the Oromia region expressed their desire to form a new synod to conduct services in the Oromo language. The Internet Society estimates that the ban's impact on businesses cost Ethiopia around $42 million (£32 million), though some believe the actual cost is higher.