South Sudan has directed telecom companies to block access to social media for a maximum of three months, citing concerns over the dissemination of graphic content relate to violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan.
JUBA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has directed telecom companies to block access to social media for a maximum of three months, citing concerns over the dissemination of graphic content related to violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan.
The country's communications industry regulator, the National Communication Authority (NCA), ordered all internet service providers and telecom operators to block access to all social media accounts, effective from midnight Wednesday.
"This is culminating from the recent upheaval in Sudan that has exposed the South Sudanese population to unprecedented levels of extreme violence through social media posts," NCA Director General Napoleon Adok Gai said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Gai said South Sudanese refugees in Wad Madani city of Sudan were targeted by violent attacks, which resulted in the deaths of women and children. Videos of the violence were shared on social media.
The footage sparked two days of deadly violent riots, particularly in Juba, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and Warrap State. Angry rioters attacked Sudanese-owned shops and looted goods.
The NCA said the social media ban is necessary to prevent the spread of violent content, particularly videos depicting brutal attacks on women and children that were widely shared on social media sites.
The blockage of social media will last for a minimum of 30 days, and the directives may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained, Gai said.
The contents depicted violate the country's local laws and pose a significant threat to public safety and mental health, especially to vulnerable groups, he added.
Telecom operators in South Sudan, including MTN, Zain, and Digitel, informed their subscribers that access to social media services through their internet connections has been suspended following the NCA directive.
Yar Mary, an online business owner, said the social media ban will affect communications between her and her clients.
"This suspension of the social media sites will affect my business very badly. Most communications with my clients are through social media," she said. "If this ban continues, my business will collapse." ■