The recent internet outage in West Africa was primarily caused by damage to multiple undersea cables. These cables are vital for carrying internet traffic across continents. Here’s a breakdown:

• Specific Cables Damaged: Reports indicate failures in the following cables:
  • SAT-3/WASC (South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable)
  • ACE (Africa Coast to Europe)
  • MainOne
• Nature of Damage: It’s still being fully investigated, but possible causes include:
  • Accidental breaks by ship anchors or fishing trawlers.
  • Natural events like underwater earthquakes or landslides.
  • Technical failures within the cable infrastructure.
• Impact: The damage resulted in disruptions to international internet connectivity for numerous countries in West and Central Africa, including Liberia.

Additional Factors:

• Reliance on Limited Cables: Many West African countries rely heavily on a small number of undersea cables, increasing the impact when any of them fail.
• Repair Time: Repairing undersea cables is a complex process. It involves locating the breaks, deploying specialized ships, and splicing the cables back together, which can take time.