Internet access disrupted in Sudan amid ongoing civil conflict

Sudan is currently experiencing an internet blackout, and many believe it is due to the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is fighting against the army in the country's civil war. However, the RSF has denied any responsibility for the blackout. NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet freedom, reported a "new collapse of internet connectivity" in Sudan. This blackout comes as a Sudanese hacktivist group targeted Uganda for welcoming the RSF leader. NetBlocks also noted a disruption to the internet services of providers in Uganda, but a BBC reporter in the capital, Kampala, did not observe any issues. Some people in Sudan have been unable to access the internet since Friday, and the situation has worsened since then. State-aligned media have accused the RSF of causing the blackout, but the Sudan Tribune news site reported an RSF official claiming that the army ordered the communication severance in certain states under the control of the paramilitary group. NetBlocks reported that one of the major mobile operators in Sudan, Zain, was mostly offline. Zain released a statement on Facebook, explaining that it was operating under difficult and dangerous circumstances and the current network outage was beyond its control. MTN Sudan and Sudani, two other providers, were at zero operation on Friday. This internet blackout further exacerbates the challenges faced by a nation at war. As a response to the ongoing conflict, the United Nations has issued an appeal for $4.1 billion to support the urgent humanitarian needs of those in Sudan and those who have been displaced from their homes. As per the UN, around nine million people have been displaced, and half the country's population, approximately 25 million people, are in need of assistance.