Regional shutdown
Internet Services
Zanzibar
On August 19, 2020, a localized telecommunications blackout occurred in the city of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan Governorate, following a coordinated act of sabotage and theft. Local authorities reported that a criminal group dismantled telecommunication poles and severed vital cables across multiple neighborhoods, including Bajdar, Al-Qudah, Al-Mahal, and Al-Tamisi, effectively cutting off phone and internet services for thousands of residents.
This incident, identified as Yemen-2, highlights the severe risks that infrastructure vandalism poses to digital resilience in conflict-affected regions. According to the Director General of Communications in Abyan, the stolen hardware was later recovered from a local iron workshop, leading to the arrest of those involved. This case demonstrates that beyond political shutdowns, the physical security of telecommunication assets remains a critical barrier to maintaining stable connectivity in Yemen.
- Total Duration 4 hours
Yemen
- Population
- 41,773,878
- UN Classification
-
- Least Developed Country
Local impact
There are reports that multiple Internet cables were cut in Zanzibar City in the Abyan governorate.
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level. Learn more
Media coverage
A Sabotage Act That Affects The Communication Columns in Zanzibar — Al-Ayyam