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Ethiopia blocks social media sites over exam leak

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Ethiopian officials have blocked social media sites across the country until national school exams conclude on Wednesday.

Facebook and other mobile apps have been disabled since Saturday, and citizens are complaining.

social-media

The government communications office said the sites were blocked to ensure an “orderly exam process,” beginning on Monday.

An online leak of national exam sheets in May forced the tests to be postponed. Some opposition media claimed responsibility for the leaks and many have called it an embarrassment for the government.

Blogger Daniel Berhane says the government has no legal basis to deny the freedom of expression to millions of citizens. He says that “this is not China.”

Ethiopia’s Education Ministry says 254,000 students are expected to sit for the national exams.

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