Residents of Oromo, Ethiopia can now access telecommunications services after the government lifted a three-month block.

Residents of the Oromo region in Ethiopia can now access the internet and voice services after the government ended a three-month long blockage of telecommunications services.

Since 7 January 2020, residents of Kellem Wellega, Oromia West, Wellega West and Horo Gudru Wellega in Oromo have been cut off from the Web and various telecommunications services.

Authorities said the action was necessary to ensure security.

In late March 2020, the country’s government rescinded the blockage following an appeal lodged by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The organisation urged the government to consider the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and provide residents of the affected region with a means of accessing critical online information including latest updates from the World Health Organisation and government provisions.

The OHCHR noted that access to information would help curb the spread of Coronavirus in Ethiopia.

“In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, factual and relevant information about the disease and its spread must reach all people, without exception. It is also essential that information about the disease is readily available in understandable formats and languages, and that the information is tailored to people with specific needs,” the organisation stated.

Shimelis Abdisa, vice-president of the Oromia region, attributed the restoration of services to the improvement of peace.

According to a 2019 TOP10 VPN study Ethiopia lost approximately US$56.8-million due to 346 days of interrupted telecommunications services.