In a disturbing turn of events, Sudan finds itself in the grips of an internet shutdown that has left over 14 million users disconnected from the digital world. The blackout, lasting several days, has sparked confusion as to who bears responsibility for this unprecedented disruption in communication.
At the heart of the chaos are conflicting accusations between the Sudanese government and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This longstanding feud, spanning nearly a year, has plunged the nation into turmoil, leading to mass displacements and widespread instability.
Blame games
The RSF, wielding significant control over the telecom infrastructure, stands accused of intentionally shutting down Sudanese and MTN Sudan’s networks, citing dissatisfaction with communication services. In a surprising twist, the RSF vehemently denies any involvement and shifts the blame to the Sudanese army, accusing them of disrupting digital communication across the entire country.
Seeking clarity amidst the chaos, the Digital Rights Lab, a non-profit organization in Sudan, is actively investigating the situation. Their findings suggest that the RSF might have taken control of certain Internet service provider centers in Khartoum, the nation’s capital. The consequences of this internet shutdown are dire, with numerous Sudanese individuals reporting an inability to reach their family members.
As communications remained severed for a majority of Sudanese citizens on a fateful Monday, telecom sector sources and the army-aligned state news agency attributed the deliberate blackout to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces locked in a power struggle with the military. However, the RSF remains silent on the matter, with an RSF source denying any involvement in the communication outages.
This digital blackout compounds the already severe impacts of the ongoing war between the RSF and Sudan’s army, resulting in the displacement of more than 7.5 million people and raising concerns about the looming threat of famine. As the blame game unfolds amidst the technological crisis, Sudan grapples with the far-reaching consequences of disrupted connectivity in an already tumultuous period.