Last year's Arab Spring and the regime changes that followed, in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia, were in a large way made possible by the use of the internet. However, while many have seen it as a tool for change, numerous governments see the danger presented by a free and open internet in Africa – and leading the way in this regard is Ethiopia.

With a population of approximately 80 million people, according to the World Bank, Ethiopia is the continent's second most populous country alongside Egypt. But only 0.5 percent of people in Ethiopia have access to the internet, according to Internet World Stats. Moreover, internet access in that country is provided by the state-owned Ethio-Telecom.

And the government in that country routinely ask this telco to block opposition websites and blogs that are critical of its policies. Earlier this year, it was reported that local access to the Amharic language website of the country’s independent weekly paper, The Reporter, had been blocked since April 21.

The state-owned service provider has also blocked all use of Voice over Internet Protocol services, such as Skype. 

Internet repression is not just carried out in the form of blocking websites and services, but also in the form of controlling who has access to the internet. As far back as December 2006, Ethio-Telecom required the names and addresses of individual users to be recorded. This was part of a move to track users who were engaged in what the government deemed illegal activities.

More recently it was reported that the Ethiopian government has been using its strong relationship with China to gain even more control over online media.

China has long led the way in cracking down on what it considers internal dissent from its blogging community, and its assistance to the Ethiopian government does not bode well for the African country’s independent voices. Some opposition parties have suggested that the Asian country is supplying Ethiopia with advanced surveillance software.

According to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Ethiopia has forced 76 local journalists and bloggers into exile, a figure which renders it the dubious honour of claiming first place ahead of the likes of Iran and Somalia.

Ethiopian blogger and journalist, Eskinder Nega, was arrested in September 2011, and remains in prison, on terrorism charges after publishing an online piece suggesting that the Arab Spring may have a knock on effect in a country like Ethiopia. The anti-terrorism law has made it a criminal offence to report or publish information that the government deems favourable to groups designated as terrorists, which includes, amongst others, opposition parties. Nega faces the death penalty if found guilty.

The Ethiopian government’s control of the internet and crack downs on those who use it to criticise the status quo is set to continue unabated. This due to its strategic location and alliance with Western governments like the USA who see it as a buffer against the rise Islamic fundamentalism in the region. Sadly, this coupled with its economic and political ties to China does not bode well for the future of a free internet in Ethiopia.

Sean Robson is a contributor for ITWeb Africa and freelance journalist who has had his work published throughout Africa and the Middle East.