This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
On August 30, 2021, South Sudan was plunged into an internet blackout that lasted over 15 hours, sparking concerns about the government's intentions.
According to Information Minister Michael Makuei, the blackout was caused by a technical issue that engineers were working to resolve.
However, residents like Bida Emmanuel were skeptical, citing the timing of the blackout, which coincided with a planned peaceful mass protest against the government on Monday.
Emmanuel, who was unable to access Facebook and Twitter, warned that the blackout would affect online businesses.
While Makuei denied any government involvement, saying it was a 'technical problem that needs to be addressed,' the lack of a clear timeline for resolution has left many wondering about the government's true intentions.
