South Sudan shuts down social media

By Miracle Ogunde

Authorities in South Sudan have directed the National Communication Authority, to order all internet service providers to “block access to all social media accounts” for a “minimum of 30 days” and a “maximum of 90 days.”

This is according to a copy of the authority’s letter reviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ as well as multiple media reports.

AFP reports that the decision was in response to recent unrest, drawing condemnation from the CPJ and concerns over press freedom and public access to information.

The directive issues on January 22 aims to curb the spread of footage showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in neighbouring Sudan, which had sparked violent protests, including retaliatory killings of Sudanese nationals.

CPJ in a statement on Monday strongly criticised the move, describing it as a disproportionate response to the unrest.

“Blocking social media access is a blanket act of censorship and a disproportionate response to unrest that makes it difficult for journalists to do their jobs and robs the public of the diverse sources of news.

“South Sudanese authorities should immediately lift this social media suspension,” said CPJ Africa programme coordinator, Muthoki Mumo.

CPJ said that journalists in South Sudan are struggling to navigate the ban, resorting to virtual private networks to continue their work.

However, they remain uncertain whether their audience can access their reports.

“We journalists are using VPNs to work. What we don’t know is whether our audience is receiving [our news],” said Mariak Bol, editor-in-chief of Hot in Juba, a news site that also publishes content on Facebook.

The social media ban comes amid broader measures to address unrest in the country, including a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the capital, Juba, on January 17.

The Authority’s director general, Napoleon Adok Gai, suggested in a press briefing on January 23 that the ban could be lifted within 72 hours, though no official confirmation has been made.

CPJ noted that efforts to reach South Sudan’s information minister and the National Communication Authority for further clarification were unsuccessful.