South Sudan Issues a 30-Day Social Media Ban

Although the NCA states that the blackout might continue up to 90 days, they have allowed for the prohibition to be lifted if conditions improve sooner.

The country is now subject to a dusk-to-dawn curfew in addition to the authorities shutting down social media.

Imagine that when you get up, you go about your everyday business of picking up your phone and browsing your preferred social media site for your daily fix of amusing videos and many memes.

You discover nothing, though, in place of viral challenges and adorable relationship vlogs. Not a word. Not a word.

The new reality for South Sudanese citizens is that their president, Salva Kiir, recently sanctioned a complete shutdown of all social media sites for a minimum of 30 days. Yes, they put the entire internet on hold.

A social media blackout, effective January 22, 2025, was declared by the National Communication Authority (NCA) in an effort to stop the spread of upsetting content on the internet.

The country told the public and the globe at large that the reason for the break is as serious as it gets, so if you’re thinking, “This feels dramatic,” sit tight.

An example showing the termination of social networking sites
As luck would have it, President Salva’s administration is attempting to shield its citizens from the gruesome recordings of atrocities against South Sudanese citizens in neighboring Sudan that have been making the rounds on social media. These films have incited rage, intense grief, and unrest throughout the country.

According to the aforementioned films, armed groups in the Gezira state of Sudan are allegedly targeting South Sudanese citizens.

This naturally caused indignation, and emotions boiled over into retaliatory looting of Sudanese-owned stores and other acts of disturbance by South Sudanese citizens.

So the government took a daring step and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the country, shutting down social media.

“We’re taking away the stage if we can’t stop the drama,” they seemed to say. However, denying access to Facebook and TikTok is akin to blaming your poor hair day on the mirror.

In accordance with the NCA, the social media shutdown is intended to “maintain public safety” and stop additional retaliation. Let’s face it, though—this is 2025. Social media serves as a vital conduit for news, advocacy, communication, and the occasional meme that helps us navigate the turmoil of life. It’s not just about cute kitten videos.

Massive South Sudanese telecom companies like MTN and Zain have been ordered to ban sites, which means there will be no drama on Facebook, no gossip on WhatsApp, and definitely no dancing trends on TikTok. Many people find it unpleasant to be on their own all of a sudden, much like losing their best friend in a group effort.

Remembering the irony here is also important. The instability may have been exacerbated by South Sudan’s attempts to quell it. Taking away someone’s favorite source of connection and amusement is, after all, the biggest method to agitate people.

However, the shutdown is more than simply a way to silence hashtags; it’s a way to try to control a country already dealing with starvation, displacement, and tensions.

Condemning the violence and calling for peace, the African Union has intervened. A cascade of instability is being caused by the ongoing violence in neighboring Sudan, which began in April 2023 and is still extending beyond its borders.

If things calm down sooner, NCA has left the option to revoke the social media ban, which they say might last up to 90 days. People in South Sudan will have to occupy their time till then with offline connections, traditional talks, and perhaps even (gasp!) books.