Past

Service blocking

Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram

Sudan

There have been media reports that Sudanese authorities are blocking access to popular social media platforms amidst nationwide anti-government protests triggered by an economic crisis. The report quotes the head of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Abdallah saying "There was a discussion in the government about blocking social media sites and in the end it was decided to block them."

  • Total Duration 67 days

Flag of Sudan Sudan

Population
50,448,963
UN Classification
  • Least Developed Country

Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Not Free

View full country profile for Sudan

Local impact

There have been media reports that Sudanese authorities are blocking access to popular social media platforms amidst nationwide anti-government protests triggered by an economic crisis. The report quotes the head of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Abdallah saying "There was a discussion in the government about blocking social media sites and in the end it was decided to block them."

Related documentation

Socal media and ATMs blocked. Everything at stand still in Khartoum and other cities across Sudan, dozens dead, hundreds wounded including kids as people call for end of Omar Bashir Regime. #SudanProtests pic.twitter.com/kxa69qvgv5— Most Creative™ (@PhathahOfficial) December 23, 2018

Other supporting information

OONI data suggests that access to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp was interfered with in Sudan between 21 December 2018 and 26 February 2019, as illustrated through the following chart (which aggregates OONI measurement coverage from the OONI Probe testing of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp web services in Sudan in December 2018).

Series of bar graphs showing results of web connectivity testing for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in Sudan from 21 to 31 December 2018.
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe Web Connectivity testing of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp websites between 20 December 2018 and 31 December 2018. Source: OONI MAT.

In particular, Twitter testing on 21 December 2018 presented signs of blocking on two ASNs in Sudan: Sudatel (AS15706) and ZAIN (AS36998).

Series of bar graphs showing results of web connectivity testing for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in Sudan from 21 December 2018 to February 2019
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe Web Connectivity testing of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp websites between 21 December 2018 and 25 February 2019. Source: OONI MAT.

On 22 December 2018 and 3 January 2019, we observed measurements about the testing of Twitter presenting anomalies on ZAIN (AS36998). All anomalies suggest HTTP-based interference, as OONI Probe tests result in timeout errors. At the same time, OONI data shows Twitter being accessible on MTN SUDAN (AS36972) on 21 December 2018 and Sudatel (AS15706) on 4th and 5th January 2019.

Bar graph showing results from web connectivity test to Twitter in Sudan from December 2018 to February 2019
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe Web Connectivity testing of Twitter website from 2 December 2018 to 24 February 2019. Source: OONI MAT.

The above chart illustrates that Twitter received minimal testing coverage in Sudan between December 2018 and February 2019, with most measurements contributed when the reported block began. Most measurements suggest Twitter was blocked on 21 December 2018, while the service seems to have been unblocked in the country by 4 January 2019. However, the limited testing coverage limits our confidence in confirming these findings.

OONI data shows signs of Facebook blocking on different days on five different ASNsSudatel (AS15706)MAXNET (AS37211)Kanar Telecom (AS33788)ZAIN (AS36998)MTN SUDAN (AS36972). Similarly to the testing of Twitter, we observed that the testing of ‘www.facebook.com’ resulted in timeout errors on some networks. We also observed connection reset errors, suggesting potential blocking of the service.

Bar graph showing results from web connectivity test to Facebook in Sudan from December 2018 to February 2019
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe Web Connectivity testing of Facebook website from 2 December 2018 to 24 February 2019. Source: OONI MAT.

The above graph demonstrates that `www.facebook.com` received limited testing coverage in Sudan between December 2018 and February 2019. Yet, the fact that all measurements during this date range presented anomalies provides a stronger signal of potential blocking.

While an even more limited number of Instagram measurements were collected from Sudan during this period, three measurements collected on 21 December 2018 present anomalies on two different ASNsSudatel (AS15706) and Kanar Telecom (AS33788). Similarly to the testing of Facebook, these measurements present connection reset errors, suggesting the potential blocking of Instagram in Sudan.

Bar graph showing results from web connectivity test to Instagram in Sudan from December 2018 to February 2019
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe Web Connectivity testing of Instagram website from 2 December 2018 to 24 February 2019. Source: OONI MAT.

OONI data shows signs of WhatsApp blocking on different days on five different AS networksSudatel (AS15706)MAXNET (AS37211),  Kanar Telecom (AS33788)ZAIN (AS36998)MTN SUDAN (AS36972).

Bar graph showing results from web connectivity test to WhatsApp in Sudan from December 2018 to February 2019
Chart — OONI Measurement Aggregation Toolkit (MAT): Sudan, OONI Probe WhatsApp messenger testing from 2 December 2018 to 24 February 2019. Source: OONI MAT.

The above chart shows that WhatsApp testing consistently presented anomalies from 21 December 2018 to 25 February 2019, while OONI measurements collected from Sudan on 26 February 2019 suggest that the service was unblocked. This is consistent with the reported blocking date range.

While OONI measurement coverage from Sudan between December 2018 and February 2019 was somewhat limited, OONI measurements suggest that access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp was interfered with on multiple networks in Sudan between 21 December 2018 and 26 February 2019. This coincides with the timing mentioned in media reports that alleged that authorities in Sudan blocked access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp continuously. However, it should be noted that only three ISPs mentioned in the media report were implementing the blocking. At the same time, OONI data suggests that at least two more network providers (Kanar Telecom (AS33788) and MTN SUDAN (AS36972)) may have implemented the blocks.

Social media

@Reuters @ReutersAfrica All social media platforms are blocked in #Sudan now. It started with #Zain last night and #MTN this morning. We are using #VPN and we hope it is sustainable. #SudanRising #مدن_السودان_تنتفض pic.twitter.com/PSg5zBKnaz — 𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 (@7aneeen_1) December 21, 2018
Internet, social media apps blocked to suppress #Sudan demonstrations and spread of footage, according to @netblocks report. Newspapers ordered not to publish about protests. https://t.co/hu7IJhb4UL #SudanNews #pressfreedom pic.twitter.com/xlZsHaBDnv — Radio Dabanga (@RadioDabanga) December 21, 2018
Dear @accessnow, Internet in Sudan is working, ONLY social media websites refuse to connect, it is being blocked by the telecommunication companies.#How can we help you address the issue. — JOSH (@ahmedwadod_) December 21, 2018

Media coverage