South Sudanese authorities have ordered a suspension of access to social media platforms in response to recent unrest, sparking criticism from press freedom organizations and raising concerns about public access to information.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) issued a directive on January 22, instructing all internet service providers to block access to social media for a period of 30 to 90 days. The order, seen by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and confirmed by multiple media reports, aims to curtail the circulation of footage depicting the killings of South Sudanese nationals in neighboring Sudan. These videos had triggered violent protests, including retaliatory attacks on Sudanese nationals in South Sudan.
In a statement issued Monday, CPJ condemned the social media ban as a disproportionate measure. Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, described the move as “a blanket act of censorship” that obstructs journalists’ work and deprives the public of access to diverse news sources. CPJ called on South Sudanese authorities to immediately lift the restrictions.
Journalists in South Sudan are reportedly circumventing the ban using virtual private networks (VPNs) to continue their work, but they remain uncertain about their audience’s ability to access their content. “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 platform that shares content on Facebook.
The social media suspension comes as part of broader measures aimed at quelling unrest in the country. On January 17, authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital, Juba.
Speaking at a press briefing on January 23, the NCA’s Director General, Napoleon Adok Gai, suggested that the ban could be lifted within 72 hours, though no official confirmation has been provided. Efforts by CPJ to reach South Sudan’s information minister and the NCA for clarification were unsuccessful.
The incident has reignited concerns over press freedom and government control of information in South Sudan, where journalists often face significant challenges in reporting sensitive issues.
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