South Sudanese officials announced on Wednesday that telecommunications companies will be mandated to limit access to social media for at least 30 days.
This measure arises from concerns regarding the dissemination of distressing content related to the ongoing violence against South Sudanese citizens in neighboring Sudan.
The temporary ban, which could potentially be extended for up to 90 days, is set to commence at midnight on Thursday.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) has instructed telecom providers, highlighting that this measure is crucial for ensuring public safety.
“The restriction may be lifted as soon as the situation improves,” the NCA noted.
“The content being circulated breaches our local laws and poses a significant threat to public safety and mental health.”
The South Sudanese populace has voiced strong discontent over videos from Sudan that reportedly show militia groups perpetrating violence against South Sudanese individuals in Gezira state.
In reaction to a night of retaliatory violence, during which shops owned by Sudanese traders were damaged, South Sudanese authorities have imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn starting January 17.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned the “brutal killings of South Sudanese nationals” in Sudan and urged for restraint.
The civil war in Sudan has resulted in an escalating famine and the largest displacement crisis globally.
In April 2023, clashes broke out in Khartoum between factions aligned with competing military leaders, and the violence has since extended to other areas. The conflict has been marked by appalling incidents, including targeted killings based on ethnicity and acts of sexual violence, as documented by the United Nations and several human rights organizations.
