By Emmanuel Mandella

The National Communication Authority Director General, Napoleon Adok, on Tuesday was invited by the national Parliament’s Specialized Committee of Information and Postal Services and the Specialised Committee on Law and Public Security, to provide clarity on the decision to ban Facebook and TikTok in South Sudan.

The session, chaired by Benjamin Morri, Chairperson of the Specialized Committee of Information and Postal Services, highlighted the motives, implications, and future steps concerning the move.

Speaking before the committees, Hon. Adok defended the shutdown, describing it as a measure taken “for the public good” to curb the circulation of inflammatory content amidst rising tensions linked to recent incidents in Sudan.

The decision, he said, was guided by Section 9 of the National Communication Authority Act, which empowers the NCA to limit technology use that counter South Sudanese values and culture.

“The shutdown was necessitated by the influx of gruesome and inflammatory images on social media, which were fueling mob reactions and endangering public order. We engaged directly with platforms like Facebook and removed nearly 200 harmful videos. This action undoubtedly saved lives,” Adok explained.

Benjamin Morri echoed these concerns, citing how such content had exacerbated tensions following the killing of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan and the resulting retaliatory actions in Juba.

“While our people stood in solidarity to express their outrage, some exploited the situation to loot, vandalize, and target innocent (Sudanese),” he said.

 “These negative effects called for government intervention, but we must also allow our institutions to handle such matters diplomatically.”

Adok assured the committee and the public that the ban, lifted on January 27, was a temporary measure aimed at mitigating immediate risks.

“We recognize the importance of social media as a bridge for communication and awareness, especially during humanitarian crises like floods or oil field incidents. However, it must be used responsibly,” he stated.

The DG also addressed concerns about monetization for local content creators, noting that the lack of regional representation by platforms like Meta (Facebook’s parent company) is a barrier. “Content creators must project South Sudan’s unique identity such as wildlife, culture, and music not violence. This will attract attention and revenue from global audiences,” Adok urged.

Moving forward, Adok outlined plans to establish content filtering mechanisms to target specific violators rather than shutting down entire platforms.

 “Our goal is to avoid future shutdowns by identifying accounts that violate laws and values. This ensures social media remains accessible and safe for everyone,” he added.

Despite his reassurances, the partial shutdown had raised significant concerns over freedom of expression. “We remain fully aware of the Bill of Rights, which guarantees access to information and freedom of speech. Our actions were consultative and focused on the greater good,” Adok said.

Hon. Morri emphasized the need for continued dialogue to balance security with constitutional freedoms.

“This incident highlights the critical role of social media in modern society. While we support measures to protect public order, we must also safeguard citizens’ rights to expression and access to information,” he concluded.