Sudan Feb 2024

Sudan (the)

2 February, 2024 14:15 - 13 May, 2024 00:00 (101 days)

Local Impact

Internet services have been disrupted again in Sudan amidst an increase in fighting intensity and violence. The measurements below reflect a drop in connections and traffic in the country, with the two major Internet Service Providers, Sudatel and MTN, going completely dark. The two networks have 53% and 21% of the Internet market share, respectively.

Data and Analysis

Below are three charts from Cloudflare Radar showing a drop in Internet traffic in Sudan and two of its major Internet Service Providers, Sudatel and MTNSD, from 2 February 2024.

Figure 1 — Internet traffic trends in Sudan from 28 January to 6 April 2024. Source: Cloudflare Radar

Figure 2 — Internet traffic trends for Sudatel from 29 January to 31 May 2024. Source: Cloudflare Radar

Figure 3 — Internet traffic trends for MTNSD from 29 January to 31 May 2024. Source: Cloudflare Radar

This degradation in connectivity was confirmed by IODA’s Internet Connectivity testing and Google Transparency Report, which show a significant drop in Internet connectivity in the country and to Google Web Search services.

Figure 4 — IODA Internet Connectivity Report for Sudan from 23 Jan to 29 May. Source: IODA

Figure 5 — Google Transparency Report showing traffic for Google web searches originating from Sudan. Source: Google

Conversations

Amidst ongoing conflict within the country, #Internet connectivity in #Sudan has been significantly disrupted since 14:15 on Feb. 2. @MTNSudan1 & @SudatelGroup are experiencing complete outages.https://t.co/sX3Ir86gw6 https://t.co/LMDwio7w5w https://t.co/lTlXEzFYxH pic.twitter.com/ijkhgCKxPG

— Cloudflare Radar (@CloudflareRadar) February 4, 2024

#KeepItOn in Sudan! 🚨

Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is reported to have hit the internet kill switch in Sudan on 2 February.

Shutdowns have a dark history in Sudan with atrocities being committed during communication blackouts. It is more important than ever to #KeepEyesOnSudan. https://t.co/pk9C57Hhou

— Access Now (@accessnow) February 5, 2024

Our sources confirmed that @RSFSudan forces tookover data centers of ISPs in Khartoum, #Sudan.#KeepItOn pic.twitter.com/150qnemJPL

— Digital Rights Lab – Sudan (@DRLab_Sudan) February 4, 2024

Internet Shutdowns

Sudan (the)