Africa
Social media banned in South Sudan

South Sudan has enforced a 30-day ban on social media access, citing concerns over the spread of disturbing content related to the ongoing violence against South Sudanese individuals in neighboring Sudan.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) issued a directive to telecom providers on Wednesday, instructing them to restrict access to social media platforms for a minimum of 30 days.
The temporary restriction, which may be extended for up to 90 days, took effect at midnight on Thursday.
According to the NCA, the ban is necessary to protect public safety and prevent the dissemination of harmful content.
“The materials being shared violate our local laws and represent a serious risk to public safety and mental well-being,” the NCA stated.
The decision comes amid rising tensions between South Sudan and Sudan, following reports of violence against South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s Gezira State.
The South Sudanese public has expressed outrage over videos circulating on social media, allegedly depicting militia groups committing acts of violence against South Sudanese individuals.
In response to the unrest, South Sudanese authorities implemented a curfew from dusk until dawn starting January 17, following a night of retaliatory violence in which shops owned by Sudanese traders were vandalized.
The African Union Commission has condemned the violence, with Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat calling for restraint and an immediate end to the hostilities.
The international community has also expressed concern over the escalating tensions, with the United Nations reporting a growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The social media ban has sparked concerns among human rights organizations, which argue that the move stifles free expression and access to information.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged South Sudanese authorities to lift the ban, ensuring that the public has access to open and reliable internet.
Background of the conflict
The Sudan-South Sudan conflict is a complex and multifaceted issue with roots dating back to the 19th century.
The region was subject to Egyptian conquest and British colonization from 1899 to 1956.
The British focused their resources on the north, leaving the south underdeveloped in terms of education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The First Sudanese Civil War broke out four months before Sudan’s independence, with the southern region seeking autonomy.
The conflict ended with the Addis Ababa Agreement, creating the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region.
However, this agreement ultimately failed to address the underlying issues, leading to the outbreak of the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983.
The Second Sudanese Civil War started when Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry declared the country an Islamic state, revoking the autonomy of the south.
The conflict ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which paved the way for South Sudan’s independence. After a referendum, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011.
However, the country’s optimism was short-lived, as internal power struggles and ethnic tensions led to the outbreak of civil war in 2013.
The conflict began when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup.
The war resulted in widespread human rights abuses, displacement of millions, and economic devastation.
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