South Sudan has suspended access to social media platforms for at least 30 days after videos showing the alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state sparked violent riots and revenge attacks. The ban, effective at midnight Wednesday, affects users of mobile operators MTN South Sudan and Zain, who will be unable to access platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The suspension could last up to 90 days, according to statements from the companies.
Napoleon Adok, the director general of South Sudan’s National Communications Authority, explained in a letter to internet service providers that the block was a response to the extreme violence shown in the social media posts. He said these videos exposed South Sudanese citizens to shocking levels of violence, which led to unrest and retaliation across the country.
Last week, riots broke out in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and other cities after news of the killings in El Gezira. At least 16 Sudanese nationals were killed in the violence. In retaliation, young people in multiple cities looted and vandalized shops owned by Sudanese nationals, as well as burned several homes. Police believe the attacks were driven by anger over the alleged involvement of Sudan’s military and allied groups in the killings. The Sudanese army has condemned the violence as “individual violations.”
For South Sudanese citizens, particularly those who rely on social media for work and communication, the ban has had a significant impact. Isaac Anthony Lumori, a popular musician and comedian known as Mc Lumoex, expressed frustration over the suspension, noting that social media is crucial for his career. “The effect is huge because I depend so much on social media,” Lumori said
