Sudan is currently facing a severe internet blackout, leaving many pointing fingers at the paramilitary group involved in the country’s 10-month-long civil war. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), however, denies any responsibility for the blackout.
On February 7, NetBlocks, an organization monitoring internet freedom, reported a significant collapse in internet connectivity within Sudan.
This blackout coincided with actions taken by a Sudanese hacktivist group, which targeted Uganda for welcoming the leader of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. NetBlocks noted disruptions in the services of internet providers like Uganda Telecom and MTN.
In Sudan, citizens have reported difficulties accessing the internet since February 7, and the situation has worsened since then. While state-aligned media have blamed the RSF for the blackout, a statement from an RSF official cited orders from the army to sever communications in certain regions under their control, such as Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, and Gezira states.
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NetBlocks further reported that one of Sudan’s major mobile operators, Zain, was experiencing significant disruptions.
Zain issued a statement on Facebook citing the challenging and dangerous circumstances under which they were operating, attributing the outage to factors beyond their control.
Other providers like MTN Sudan and Sudani were reported to be operating at minimal capacity or offline entirely.
This internet blackout exacerbates the already dire situation in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict has displaced millions and left half the population in need of assistance.
There is an urgent need to address the crisis in Sudan with heightened attention and immediate action.
The people of Sudan have endured nearly everything – from loss of safety and homes to livelihoods
Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
The United Nations has appealed for $4.1 billion to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation.