South Sudan blocks social media over violence in neighboring Sudan

Facebook app logo and other app logos are displayed on a mobile phone screen for illustration photo. Krakow, Poland on January 23, 2023. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
South Sudanese authorities have ordered a 30-day social media ban starting midnight Thursday, citing concerns over the spread of graphic content linked to violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) stated that the ban, which may be extended up to 90 days, aims to protect public safety and mental health.
“This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the NCA explained, adding that the content violates local laws and poses significant risks.
The move follows public outrage over videos from Sudan allegedly showing militia killings of South Sudanese in Gezira state.
To curb retaliatory violence, South Sudan imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on January 17 after unrest led to the looting of Sudanese-owned shops.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned the killings of South Sudanese nationals and called for restraint.
Sudan’s ongoing civil war has fueled famine and displaced millions. Since April 2023, fighting between rival military factions has escalated from Khartoum to other regions, characterized by atrocities such as ethnically motivated killings and sexual violence, according to UN and human rights organizations.