To end mass protests, Sudan cuts off Internet access nationwide

A recent article has analysed the impact of Internet shutdowns in Sudan, which has been hit by massive protests by its citizens since December 2018, as well as the motivation and rationale behind the shutdowns by the Sudanese authorities.

Firstly, the article notes that the Sudanese authorities are desperate and it is shutting down the Internet as part of a ‘last-ditch’ strategy to break the protesters’ momentum and buy time for the regime.

Secondly, the article notes that with only 31 percent of the population having access to the Internet, and only 7 percent of the population being on social media, the Sudanese authorities do not see a huge impact on the economy when they turn off the Internet.

Thirdly, the article points out that disrupting the Internet is an often used tactic that works well, as the country lacks the infrastructure to implement complex methods of digital repression.