Director-General of National Communication Authority, Napoleon Adok Gai. |File photo|.
Authorities in South Sudan lifted the ban on Facebook and TikTok nearly a week after imposing a nationwide blackout under the pretext of containing the spread of inflammatory content sparked by the gruesome killings of several South Sudanese nationals in the neighboring Sudan allegedly by elements of Sudan Armed Forces.
The ban was issued on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, by the National Communications Authority, one of the parastatals of the government’s Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services.
In a press statement, the authority announced that it successfully removed graphic and inflammatory content from Facebook and TikTok.
“As a result of this achievement, the NCA hereby announces the lifting of the blockage of Facebook and TikTok, effective today at 00:00 hours, 27 January 2025. In conjunction with this decision, we urge all our licensees with cache servers of Facebook and TikTok being hosted in South Sudan to actively participate in monitoring these social media platforms and to assist in reporting inflammatory and graphic content that should be pulled down by the social media platform operators (Meta and Tik Tok),” Napoleon Adok, the director-general of the National Communication Authority said.
“The rise of violence linked to social media content in South Sudan underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of online incitement while protecting the rights of the population. By the lifting of this blockage of Facebook and TikTok operations, we wish to foster a safer digital environment and promote peace and stability in the country.”
Adok said the authority will reach out for a consolidated approach to avoid future shutdowns.
The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) welcomed the lifting of the blockage of Facebook and TikTok and called on the government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect press freedom and the right of access to information to serve the public good.
AMDISS appealed to the National Communication Authority to expedite the process of lifting the ban and allow the social media companies to moderate their platforms and enforce measures to avert the spread of inflammatory content and misinformation to reduce harm.
“The recent Facebook and TikTok blackout not only restrained this fundamental right but also hindered the media from gathering and sharing information and limited the public from expressing their opinions and engaging in public discourse. It is worth noting that social media has become a vital tool for communication, especially in South Sudan, where there is limited access to mainstream media,” AMDISS statement read.
The media advocacy group stressed that the shutdown silenced the voices and repressed democratic participation at a time when open conversation is highly indispensable to tackling the core challenges facing South Sudan.
“It is our conviction that Facebook and TikTok will help the mainstream media monitor voter registration exercises, stimulate effective civic education, and enable massive mobilization of voters to exercise their democratic rights during the 2026 polls,” the statement partly read.
South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ramadan Abdalla Goc called on the UN Security Council to help in investigating the alleged gruesome killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s Al-Gezira State town of Wad Madani early this month.
