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Bar Association threatens to sue NCA over social media ban

Author: Michael Daniel | Published: January 24, 2025

Photo|Courtesy

South Sudan Bar Association issues a 72-hour ultimatum to National Communication Authority to revoke the social media ban or its risks being sued at a regional court.

In statement shared with Eye Radio’s news room signed by chairperson of the Sudan Bar Association stated that failure rescind the ban, the Bar will take legal proceedings at South Sudan Courts, East African Court of Justice, as well as other regional and international avenues.

On Wednesday National Communication Authority ordered all Internet Service Providers to partially block all social media sites within the territory of South Sudan for a period of (90) days effective from 22nd January 2025,

The Bar Association stated that the decision violates article 24, sections 1 and 2 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 as Amended that grants the citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression, reception, and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press.

The right to freedom of expression is also guaranteed under article 19 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and article (9) of the African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights (APHR).

The South Sudan Bar Association rejected NCA’s justifications that cite the need to stop the videos and footages of the atrocities committed in Wad-Medani, Sudan from being circulated on social media platforms in South Sudan.

It argues that social media platforms provide the people of South Sudan the right to access information and that it was through social media that they came to know about the atrocities in Sudan, and enabled them to follow the fate of their dear ones.

The association has described the he decision of NCA as unjust as it also deprived entrepreneur’s opportunity to market their goods and services as part of E- commerce,

According to the association, banning social Media platforms gives a collective punishment to all south Sudanese over the misconduct of few individuals, which it said is unreasonable, unfair and unjustifiable.

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