Media Blackouts and Information Warfare
How internet shutdowns, journalist targeting, and propaganda campaigns have shaped the narrative of Sudan's conflicts.
The Blackout Strategy
Sudan's military authorities have repeatedly used internet shutdowns as a tool of political control. During the 2019 revolution, the Transitional Military Council imposed a near-total internet blackout for 36 days following the June 3 massacre at the Khartoum sit-in. The shutdown served a dual purpose: it prevented protesters from organizing and blocked the flow of images and videos documenting the military's violence.
When the 2023 war erupted, telecommunications infrastructure was among the first casualties. Both sides damaged or seized cell towers and internet infrastructure. In many parts of Sudan, particularly Darfur and Khartoum, residents went weeks or months without reliable communication. The blackout made it extraordinarily difficult for journalists, human rights organizations, and the UN to document atrocities — which was, for the perpetrators, precisely the point.
