JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN — South Sudanese authorities have imposed a temporary ban on social media platforms for at least 30 days, following videos that allegedly showed the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state. The videos sparked widespread riots and deadly revenge attacks in South Sudan.
Napoleon Adok, Director General of the National Communications Authority, notified internet service providers in a letter sent on Wednesday that the block would take effect at 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 letter seen by Vivid Voice News.
Mobile operators MTN South Sudan and Zain announced that their customers would be unable to access platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and others for up to 90 days.
The suspension follows the violent unrest triggered by videos showing the alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state.
The violence, which broke out last week in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and other parts of the country, resulted in at least 16 Sudanese nationals being killed. In retaliation, youths in several cities looted and vandalized businesses owned by Sudanese nationals, while homes were set on fire.
The unrest stemmed from widespread belief that Sudan’s military and its allies were responsible for the killings in El Gezira.
In response, the Sudanese army condemned what it referred to as “individual violations” in the region.
