SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Washington Post - To end mass protests, Sudan has cut off internet access nationwide. Here’s why.
Steven Feldstein attributes the internet blackout in Sudan to three factors.
Firstly, the “desperate” regime views the blackout as way to solidify its political survival, and show short-term strength to assure its Saudi and Emirati financiers that it is worth backing, a “last-ditch strategy” to buy time.
Secondly, as only 31% of Sudan has internet access, shutting it down does not hurt Sudan’s economy as it would a developed economy. Also, the most active internet users overlap with those demonstrating.
Third, the blackout is a result of the regime lacking the “right infrastructure to implement more sophisticated instruments of digital repression.”
Feldstein highlights two issues with the internet blackout for the regime. Firstly, 5 days of blackout have cost Sudan $228,924,285, which Sudan “can ill afford to lose,” amid the soaring bread price that fueled the protests.
Secondly, it also means that the regime cannot monitor present or future opponents.