Sudan has Blocked Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to Counter Anti-govt protests
By Abdi Latit Dahir |
Sudan’s government is looking to the internet as one way to quell swelling protests all over the country.
For over a week now, protesters in major cities have demonstrated against rising bread prices besides soaring inflation and shortages in fuel. To remedy the dire economic and political situation, marchers have called on president Omar al-Bashir, who has ruled over the nation for almost three decades, to resign.
At least 19 people have so far been killed and 200 others injured in the clashes, according to officials, while Amnesty International put the number of dead demonstrators at 37.
Besides introducing a state of emergency and arresting opposition figures, the northeastern African state has also shut down social media access on mobile networks. Data collected by digital advocacy group NetBlocks on Dec. 21 shows varying attempts to block platforms including Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram on mobile networks.
This article was first published on December 28, 2018 on Quartz Africa website.
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