South Sudan announced on Friday that it would lift a controversial ban on social media platforms TikTok and Facebook, following widespread public backlash and concerns raised by human rights groups.
The government had imposed the 30-day ban earlier this week, citing the spread of graphic videos showing South Sudanese citizens being killed in neighboring Sudan, which had triggered riots.
“Our aim was to target those distributing harmful content, not to shut down all of social media,” said Napoleon Adok, director-general of the National Communication Authority. “We have listened to the concerns of citizens and human rights groups and reversed the decision.”
The ban had sparked demonstrations in the capital, Juba, after reports emerged that clashes in Sudan had killed 29 South Sudanese nationals. The protests escalated into violence, with demonstrators looting Sudanese-owned businesses. Security forces fired on crowds and detained hundreds of looters to restore order.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has faced ongoing economic and political challenges. Many South Sudanese had sought refuge in Sudan during previous conflicts, but the civil war that erupted in Sudan in 2023 has forced many to return.
According to the United Nations, most of the one million people fleeing Sudan’s war into South Sudan are returnees. The unrest highlights the fragile relationship between the two nations and the impact of regional instability on South Sudan’s already struggling population.