South Sudanese authorities have directed telecom companies to restrict access to social media in order to stop citizens from sharing graphic videos showing attacks on South Sudanese in neighbouring Sudan.
Social media access has been blocked for at least 30 days by South Sudanese authorities after recordings showing the purported murders of Sudanese citizens in El Gezira state sparked violent demonstrations and lethal retaliatory attacks.
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Napoleon Adok, the National Communications Authority’s Director General, sent a memo to internet service providers on Wednesday, stating that the restriction would be effective Thursday midnight.
“This is culminating from the recent upheaval in Sudan, that has exposed the South Sudanese population to unprecedented levels of extreme violence through social media posts,” Adok wrote in the memo.
“This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the NCA said. “The contents depicted violate our local laws and pose a significant threat to public safety and mental health.”
Telecom operators complied with the directives
Mobile operators – MTN South Sudan and Zain announced on Wednesday that their customers would not be able to have access to Facebook, TikTok, and other services for a maximum of ninety days.
Riots broke out in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and other parts of the country last week, killing at least 16 Sudanese citizens.
In revenge for what they perceived to be the involvement of Sudan’s military and affiliated groups in the killings in El Gezira, youths in a number of cities set fire to multiple homes and robbed and vandalised stores owned by Sudanese citizens, according to authorities.
What the Sudanese army described as “individual violations” in El Gezira have been condemned.