Communications have been cut off for most Sudanese people on Monday, as two sources in the telecommunications sector and Sudan's state-aligned news agency believe this is a deliberate move by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are engaged in fighting with the army. The RSF did not comment, but a source from within stated that the paramilitary forces were not responsible for the communication disruptions. Many Sudanese reported being unable to reach their family members, exacerbating the effects of the war between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which has forced over 7.5 million people to flee their homes and raised warnings of famine. Millions rely on online payments to purchase food and other essentials, which are now inaccessible due to the network outage.
The internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, posted data on the X platform yesterday showing that connections for two major service providers, MTN Sudan, owned by South Africa, and Sudani, state-owned, had dropped to zero or near zero starting from Friday. The Sudan News Agency (SUNA) and the sources from the telecom sector indicated that the RSF had cut communications from the service providers while demanding repair of the network disruptions in the predominantly RSF-controlled western Darfur region. The immediate cause of the disruption in Darfur was unclear. MTN and Sudani declined to comment on requests for statements.
A source within the RSF blamed the army for the communication cut in Darfur, alleging that it had ordered the shutdown for months in that area and other regions without international concern similar to the current situation. However, the source did not specify who was responsible for communication disruptions in other parts of the country, claiming that the RSF was not involved. The RSF controls most of the capital, Khartoum, including facilities of telecom companies. According to two sources in the telecommunications sector, the RSF managed to shut down networks without causing permanent damage.
The sources, along with the Sudanese news agency, reported that the RSF also compelled Zain Sudan, the main service provider owned by Kuwait, to halt services in the Nile River State and Port Sudan, areas controlled by the army. Zain stated in a post on its Facebook page today that its employees "are working under very difficult, harsh, and dangerous conditions, and (Zain) wishes to indicate that the current network outage is due to circumstances beyond its control." A representative from Sudani refused to comment, but the company mentioned on Saturday on Facebook that it is working to restore service.
MTN Group, the parent company of MTN Sudan, stated in a release to Reuters today that the outage arose from ongoing conflict. It added that "MTN Sudan is actively working with relevant stakeholders to minimize the duration of this outage." Network towers, power lines, and other infrastructure have been damaged by fighting throughout Sudan since the conflict erupted in April.
The war has plunged Sudan into the world's largest displacement crisis, and both sides have faced accusations of committing war crimes. Doctors Without Borders warned today that at least one child is dying every two hours in the Zamzam displaced persons camp in Darfur.
