Friday, January 24, 2025 - South Sudan has ordered internet providers to block social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, following violent protests sparked by the deaths of its citizens in neighboring Sudan. The directive, issued by the National Communication Authority (NCA), came into effect at midnight on January 22, 2025, and is set to last up to 90 days
The protests began last week in the capital, Juba, after reports
that clashes in Sudan had killed 29 South Sudanese. The demonstrations
escalated into violence, with looters targeting Sudanese-owned businesses.
Security forces opened fire to disperse crowds and detained hundreds of
individuals involved in the unrest.
In a letter addressed to internet providers, NCA Director General
Napoleon Adok Gai justified the decision, citing the circulation of violent
content on social media. He claimed such content posed a significant threat to
public safety and mental health. "The recent upheaval in Sudan has exposed
the South Sudanese population to unprecedented levels of extreme violence
through social media press," Gai said, adding that videos of the attacks
shared online violated local laws.
Major telecommunications companies, including MTN South Sudan, Zain, and
Digitel, confirmed the suspension of social media platforms. MTN South Sudan
stated that customers would be unable to access Facebook, TikTok, and related
messaging applications during the suspension period. Similar statements were
issued by the other providers.
The government had already declared a nighttime curfew last week, with
President Salva Kiir calling for restraint. While the situation appeared to
have calmed over the weekend, the curfew remains in place.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has faced
ongoing economic and political instability. Many South Sudanese had fled to
Sudan, but the civil war that erupted there in 2023 has driven hundreds of
thousands back across the border. According to the United Nations, the majority
of the one million people fleeing Sudan’s conflict into South Sudan are
returnees.
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