#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access to social media in South Sudan and uphold human rights

We, the undersigned organizations, and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 334 human rights organizations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — urgently demand the government of South Sudan to put an immediate end to the ongoing social media shutdowns in the country. The shutdown is in gross violation of national and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to continue. 

On January 22, 2025, the National Communication Authority (NCA) directed all internet service providers to block access to social media for a maximum of 90 days in South Sudan. Authorities claim the shutdown was to prevent the circulation of graphic videos depicting the killing of South Sudanese nationals including women and children, allegedly by the Sudanese Armed Forces, in Wad Madani — a city in neighboring Sudan. There have been widespread violent protests in South Sudan and reprisal attacks against Sudanese people and businesses in the capital, Juba, and other parts of the country. In efforts to curb the situation, the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn nationwide curfew until further notice on January 18, and subsequently ordered the blocking of social media. 

However, restricting access to critical digital platforms in times of crisis stifles not only free expression, but also access to healthcare and life-saving information. These platforms are not solely for social communications, they are lifelines in times of crisis — enabling the rapid dissemination of critical alerts about safety, shelter, and emergency services. Moreover, internet shutdowns impede the documentation of human rights abuses and enable perpetrators of such atrocities to evade accountability. Additionally, evidence shows that blocking access to vital communication platforms exacerbates harm and amplifies the spread of misinformation and disinformation. 

This is not the first time that authorities in South Sudan have restricted access to digital platforms. In 2021, authorities blocked access to Facebook and WhatsApp in response to protests spurred by economic hardship.

Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country including MTN and Zain informed their subscribers about the government’s order and confirmed that they would begin blocking Facebook and TikTok from midnight of January 22, 2025. 

Internet shutdowns contravene national and international legal frameworks. Article 24 of South Sudan’s constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression and access to information. International instruments to which South Sudan is a signatory, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights similarly make express provision for these rights. While these rights are not absolute, their limitations must be necessary and proportionate, as asserted by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee in General Comment No.34. Blanket internet shutdowns are inherently disproportionate, as there are less restrictive alternatives available to moderate the dissemination of violent content on social media, in accordance with human rights standards. International instruments have further pronounced the importance of full and fair internet access and even more specifically issued guidance to member states on internet shutdowns. The 2016 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution recognizes the “importance of the internet in advancing human and people’s rights in Africa,” expressing concern over the “emerging practice of State Parties interrupting or limiting access to telecommunication services such as the internet, social media, and messaging services.” The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 2019 calls upon States not to “engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.” 

All ISPs operating in South Sudan are obligated to comply with directives properly issued by the NCA, as stated in Section 34 (6) of the National Communication Act. However, companies like Zain, MTN, and Digitel have also committed to upholding the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which require them to prevent adverse human rights impacts arising from their operations. The principles provide guidelines on how companies can promote human rights due to their unique position between authorities and the end user. By implementing the government’s shutdown order rather than complying with international human rights standards, these companies risk complicity in violating the fundamental rights of the South Sudanese people. 

We therefore urge telecom companies operating in South Sudan to uphold their human rights obligations and resist the order through legal channels. Specifically, any ISP operating in South Sudan should scrutinize the government order and assess its constitutionality. Vague terms like “social media sites” must be defined precisely. Regulators and judicial authorities should review the order’s impact on ISPs’ existing contractual commitments to customers as well as their rights and responsibilities under both national and international law and norms like the UNGPs.

Access Now and members of the #KeepItOn coalition call on the government of South Sudan, ISPs as well as relevant actors, and urge the following:

• The South Sudanese government must immediately revoke the shutdown directive, restore access, and refrain from imposing network disruptions in the future;
• We urge MTN, Zain, and Digitel to stop enforcing shutdown orders, push back against illegal government directives, and uphold their duty to respect people’s rights in South Sudan;
• Social media companies must take measures in accordance with human rights standards to ensure that content that meets the threshold of incitement to violence, hostility, and discrimination is reviewed and contained to prevent escalations offline; and
• Furthermore, they must work in consultation with local civil society organizations, people at risk, and other stakeholders to create or improve existing emergency response mechanisms to ensure that their current approaches to detecting, reviewing, restricting and removing illegal content are adequately contextualized.

Signatories