South Sudanese authorities have directed telecommunications companies to block access to social media platforms for at least 30 days due to concerns about the spread of graphic content linked to ongoing violence against South Sudanese citizens in neighboring Sudan.
The temporary ban, which could extend up to 90 days, is set to take effect at midnight Thursday, according to a directive from South Sudan’s National Communication Authority (NCA). The NCA explained the measure as necessary to safeguard public safety and mental health, noting that the content being circulated violated local laws.
“This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the NCA stated. “The contents depicted violate our local laws and pose a significant threat to public safety and mental health.”
The decision comes in response to graphic footage from Sudan, reportedly showing militia groups killing South Sudanese in Gezira state. The release of this content has sparked outrage among many South Sudanese. In response to escalating tensions, South Sudanese authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on January 17 after shops owned by Sudanese traders were looted in an act of retaliation.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned the brutal killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan and called for restraint.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between rival military factions, has triggered widespread famine and the world’s largest displacement crisis. The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically targeted killings and rape, according to reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations.