Over the last twenty years, digital authoritarianism in African nations has increased exponentially. Tactics have included internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, mobile tracking, and a changing legal framework to arrest civilians for online comments. The latter, specifically, has created a culture of self-censoring that asserts indirect government control over online discourse. Elections have been particularly impacted, as social media bans and internet blackouts prevent opposition parties from gaining adequate influence or support. These internet shutdowns have also been used to decrease civil unrest, especially in the case of unpopular regimes taking control. While citizens have turned to secure forms of communication, such as through VPNs and encrypted messages, the rise of digital authoritarianism in Africa represents yet another way nations are backsliding from democracy.