Unlocking Civilian Protection in Sudan Through Telecoms Access
As Sudan enters its third year of war, nearly 13 million people are forcibly displaced. 24.6 million people, roughly half of Sudan’s population, are acutely food insecure, with at least 638,000 experiencing famine. The war being waged is one against the people of Sudan, who have been cut off from the outside world due to the weaponisation of the telecom networks in the country by the warring parties.
The telecommunications blackout in Sudan began in February 2024 when the cellular connection to Sudan’s three mobile network operators (MNOs) – MTN, Zain, and Sudatel – was switched off, affecting over 30 million people. The MNOs used to serve 35 million people; however, they now estimate that they reach no more than 30% of their previous clients.
Telecoms Access as a Human Rights Issue
The blackout has severely reduced civilians’ right to access information. With connection to the outside world severed, civilians are unable to send and receive information about the latest developments in the conflict, limiting early warning and rapid response systems. This has also enabled the belligerents to hide their atrocities from the Sudanese people, the international community, and global media. In this information vacuum, misinformation and disinformation is spreading and driving ethnically motivated hate speech and reprisal attacks, further exacerbating conflict across Sudan. It also raises the risks of exploitation, trafficking, and abuse, particularly for displaced persons, the majority of whom are women and girls.
The telecommunications blackout is a protection threat to civilians. Effective protection of civilians (PoC) is not possible without the restoration of telecommunications access. As the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has regained territory, MNOs have been able to restore some level of telecommunications access in the centre and east of the country. However, this could lead to a stratification of access across Sudan based on which armed group controls an area.
Starlink is providing a lifeline for many people across Sudan through satellite internet access. However, Starlink cannot replace the domestic networks and has several limitations. For example, people have to physically be at a Starlink access point to send or receive internet traffic and in some areas access to Starlink providers is on a semi-regular basis such as at the weekly market. The warring parties have also issued orders not to use Starlink during military operations and other critical times. It is also extremely expensive, so many civilians cannot afford access, particularly displaced and rural populations.
Impacts on civilians
The warring parties in Sudan have weaponised telecommunications access and the ongoing blackout restricts the ability of civilians to access money, healthcare, and psychosocial care, despite telecoms networks being critical civilian infrastructure protected under international humanitarian law.
MONEY – civilians in Sudan rely on mobile banking to access their funds. Without access to the internet, there are few options for accessing money. Due to the cash liquidity crisis, civilians are even more reliant on mobile money; however, this has also led to large levies on payments, with fees of 40% reported in camps in North Darfur.
HEALTHCARE – up to 80% of health facilities in conflict areas are non-operational. Civilians in Sudan were reliant on telecoms to communicate their health needs to service providers, such as doctors and pharmacists, including in circumstances where patients are unable to travel due to conflict and insecurity. Social media was a vital resource for information-sharing about which medical facilities were still operating and where to access medicines amidst serious shortages. Amidst the blackout, civilians’ access to healthcare has become even more restricted.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE – The UN World Food Program provides direct cash transfers to civilians as a form of humanitarian assistance. However, civilians need to register for this service using an online form. This is impossible for civilians who have been completely cut off from the internet, such as areas of East Darfur which have not had electricity in two years.
PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE – There is a high prevalence of significant and intergenerational trauma in Sudan as a result of the war, particularly on women and girls. Mental health and psychosocial care can be provided remotely, but this requires access to the internet, including for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. This care isn’t possible without telecoms access.
Telecommunications Access as the Foundation of PoC
Telecommunications access is the foundation of all civilian protection work in Sudan. Since February 2024, the international community and the warring parties have failed to allow for the restoration of telecommunications access across Sudan.
PAEMA recommends that an independent technical assessment team travels to Sudan to assess the telecommunications networks, data centres, and other critical telecoms infrastructure, to come up with a plan to repair and restore the networks across the country.
This requires the international community to broker an agreement with all parties to the conflict that exercise territorial control to establish security guarantees for: the safety of the assessment, maintenance, and work teams; the transportation and delivery of fuel and equipment to sites; towers to be protected from future attacks; and to ensure that access is restored equitably and without discrimination based on political or social factors. The fact that SAF has prevented essential telecom equipment in country from being distributed demonstrates that international pressure and support is needed for the full restoration of the networks throughout Sudan. This should be done in conjunction with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Our research suggests that in some areas, lifting the blackout may not require extensive infrastructure repairs, rather the sourcing and protection of solar and diesel-powered generators to restore those that were lost through the conflict and looting. This is precisely why the independent technical assessment is required.
Contact: Shayna Lewis, PAEMA’s Sudan Specialist and Senior Adviser, slewis@paema.ngo