CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS: Time to end telecommunications blackout in Sudan is now

In the midst of the devastating humanitarian crisis that is fast deteriorating in Sudan, we, representing 94 humanitarian, civil society and human rights organizations, urgently appeal for the re-establishment of telecommunications infrastructure across the entire country.

Sudan has become the world’s worst displacement crisis and is on the brink of becoming the world’s worst hunger crisis. In total, more than half of Sudan’s population – nearly 25 million people – need humanitarian aid. Over a year of relentless warfare and indiscriminate violence have destroyed homes, towns, livelihoods, and critical civilian infrastructure.

Indiscriminate attacks and disruption of telecommunications by warring parties have severely affected civilians’ ability to cope with the effects of the war, as well as aid workers’ capacity to deliver essential services, with local responders most severely impacted.

Both sides have consistently used targeted attacks on telecommunication infrastructure or the imposition of bureaucratic restrictions (such as the banning of the importation and use of certain satellite-internet devices) severely impacting civilian populations. When available, internet access has been instrumental in assisting civilians share and receive critical and often lifesaving information, including about safe areas and routes.

Civilians also use the internet to access cash and bank transfers—often receiving support from relatives living overseas–which for many has become a lifeline, allowing them to purchase the most basic necessities like food and water.

Local aid groups, who have been the first and main responders in most conflict-affected parts of the country, rely heavily on telecommunications to reach vulnerable communities and receive funding for their lifesaving activities.

In areas where formal telecommunication is barely functioning, both civilians and Local Responders such as Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs)  often connect through informal “Starlink” internet cafes. Humanitarian organizations also rely on functional telecommunications to coordinate and safely deliver relief efforts, particularly providing cash assistance into the most remote areas.

A nationwide telecommunication shutdown in February 2024 left almost 30 million Sudanese without access to the internet or telephone calls for more than a month. Across the country, those experiencing the horrors of war have been separated from and unable to contact their families and loved ones. While some levels of services were restored in the east of the country, large swathes of territory remain disconnected from the network providers such as Zain, MTN, and Sudani – namely the Darfur region, and parts of Khartoum and Kordofan.

The same areas are also the most exposed to conflict and famine, making the consequences of telecommunications blackouts even more life-threatening. In some areas cut off from broader telecommunications, the only available service has been via satellite connectivity devices such as Starlink.

Whilst the cost of satellite services is prohibitive to most civilians and there are significant restrictions on the importation of satellite equipment, such services remain critical for both international humanitarian organizations and local responders to remain operational in Sudan.

While there remain valid concerns around the use of this technology, as with all other telecommunications systems, by the parties to the conflict, the potential shutdown of Starlink (as announced in April 2024) would have a disproportionate effect on civilians and the aid organizations who are trying to reach them.

We call upon all stakeholders to ensure the uninterrupted provision of telecommunication services in Sudan. Any shutdown of telecommunication services is a violation of human rights and may be considered as a collective punishment that will not only isolate individuals from their support networks but also exacerbate the already dire economic situation facing millions.

Telecommunications infrastructure should be considered critical civilian infrastructure. As such, parties to the conflict must refrain from attacking, destroying, damaging, or otherwise rendering inoperable telecommunications infrastructure; facilitate the rehabilitation of damaged systems; and ensure telecommunications services are accessible to all, regardless of where they live. In addition, they should lift restrictions on all satellite internet and actively facilitate the importation of satellite-internet devices.

All service providers able to ensure connectivity in Sudan must immediately ensure that access to the internet remains accessible without interruption or additional cost increases. This includes diversifying the means to access the internet, such as solutions based on satellite (including, though not limited to, Starlink) and WiMAX technology, or the use of eSIMs near the country’s borders.

Development donors and financial institutions should support the development of the telecommunication sector in the longer term, by promoting decentralized infrastructure and fewer barriers to entering the telecom market for smaller businesses.

The United Nations, through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, must urgently increase emergency telecommunication capacity in Darfur and the Kordofans and provide access to the services to all humanitarian actors, including expanding its services to civilians until other options become available.

 

Signatories:  

1. Access Now
2. Action Against Hunger
3. ADRA
4. African Centre for Justic and Peace Studies
5. African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)
6. Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI)
7. African Middle Eastern Leadership Project (AMEL)
8. AfricTivistes
9. AISPO
10. Almostagball for Enlightenment and Development Organization (AEDO)
11. Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE)
12. Blueprint for Free Speech
13. CAFOD
14. CARE
15. Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD Ethiopia)
16. Coalition for Darfur Women Human Rights Defenders
17. Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
18. Computech Institute
19. Connect Rurals
20. Cooperazione Internazionale
21. Danish Refugee Council
22. Digital Grassroots (DIGRA)
23. Digital Rights Kashmir
24. Digital Rights Lab – Sudan
25. EMERGENCY NGO
26. Fikra for Studies and Development
27. Free Press Unlimited
28. Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)
29. Global Programming Overseas
30. Guardians Organization
31. Hopes & Actions Foundation
32. Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust
33. Humanity for Development & Prosperity Organization
34. Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
35. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
36. International Press Institute
37. International Rescue Committee
38. International Medical Committee
39. Intersos
40. Islamic Relief Worldwide
41. JCA-NET(Japan)
42. Jonction
43. Kandoo
44. KICTANet
45. Kijiji Yeetu
46. LastMile4D
47. Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan
48. LM International
49. Medair
50. Media Diversity Institute – Armenia
51. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
52. Mercy Corps
53. Miaan Group
54. Nobel Women’s Initiative
55. Nonviolent Peaceforce
56. Nora Center for Combating Sexual Violence
57. Norwegian Church Aid
58. Norwegian Refugee Council
59. ONG Women Be Free
60. OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference)
61. OpenNet Africa
62. Organization of the Justice Campaign
63. PAEMA
64. Paradigm Initiative
65. PEN America
66. Plan International
67. Premiere Urgence International
68. Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness
69. Refugees International
70. Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in Southwest Asia and North Africa
71. Rights for Peace
72. Save the Children
73. Saferworld
74. Solidarites International
75. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
76. Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
77. Sudanese American Public Affairs Association
78. Sudan Human Rights Hub
79. Sudan Human Rights Network
80. Sudan Peace & Security Monitor
81. Sudan Women Rights Action
82. The Circle
83. The Tor Project
84. Tomorrow’s Smile Organization
85. Ubunteam
86. United Nations Association – UK
87. US-Educated Sudanese Association (USESA)
88. Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)
89. Waging Peace
90. Women’s International Peace Centre
91. World Vision International
92. YODET
93. Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria)
94. Zaina Foundation