Sudan's internet access close to collapse as deadly clashes continue

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Internet access in Sudan was partially restored on Monday after the US announced a 72-hour ceasefire between the country's two rival armies.

The lack of internet connectivity sparked concerns over contacting loved ones, disseminating information on evacuation efforts and tracking human rights abuses.

Service for the Sudatel telecoms group returned after the US announced the ceasefire on Monday following down time of 40 hours, Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, a network observability company, said on Twitter.

Service remained intermittent, however, despite the connection, according to cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks.

Zain Sudan, a mobile phone operator, was offline from 12.20am to 10.30am on Monday.

Internet provider MTN Sudan was carrying traffic on Monday morning, a week after a regulator ordered it to restore services.

Meanwhile, a separate analysis by NetBlocks on Saturday reported a “near-total collapse” of internet connection in Sudan. Connectivity on Monday was currently only 2 per cent of normal levels.

The degradation of Sudan's internet access comes as deadly violence between two rival armies continues into its second week.

The clashes, which have resulted in hundreds killed and thousands injured, have prompted countries to evacuate diplomats and other foreign citizens.

Cutting off internet access deprives millions from being able to reach loved ones or receive information needed to make decisions, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report last year.

“Shutdowns also directly put people’s safety and well-being at risk, for example, when they make it impossible to warn people against impending danger or for people to call for vital service,” the report found.

Advocacy groups have long called for internet access to be considered a human right, arguing it is vital for access to education, freedom of expression and access to information.

Internet access in Sudan has been cut off at least nine times in the past, with cuts lasting 7.3 days on average, cybersecurity company Surfshark reported.