South Sudan has suspended access to social media platforms for at least 30 days after videos showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state sparked violence and revenge attacks.
The National Communications Authority informed internet providers that the suspension, set to begin at midnight Wednesday, will block platforms like Facebook and TikTok for a minimum of 30 days. The move follows widespread unrest in South Sudan, where riots erupted in response to the videos, leading to the deaths of Sudanese nationals.
Mobile network operators MTN South Sudan and Zain confirmed that users would be unable to access social media for up to 90 days.
The violence in South Sudan left at least 16 Sudanese nationals dead, with several shops and homes belonging to Sudanese citizens looted and destroyed. South Sudanese youths have blamed the Sudanese military and allied forces for the killings, though Sudan’s army condemned the violence as “individual violations.”
