Sudan Ordered to Restore Internet Cut Off Since October’s Coup

(Bloomberg) -- A Sudanese court ordered the restoration of mobile internet access cut off since a coup more than two weeks ago, a potential boost for activists planning mass protests against military rule.

The decision, which obliges providers such as Canar Telecom, Zain, MTN and Sudani to reconnect users, followed one earlier in the week that returned internet services to just five plaintiffs, according to Abdelazim Hassan, who’s among a group of lawyers that raised the complaint.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Sudan’s rulers would allow companies to comply. Hassan said he expects full services to be restored within the hour. 

The North African country has been mostly offline since Oct. 25, when the army overthrew a civilian-military power-sharing government that was supposed to lead the country to democratic elections in 2023. 

The putsch spurred large-scale demonstrations and a crackdown that has left at least 14 people dead, although the restriction on communications has curbed activists’ ability to share information and mobilize.

Activists are planning another mass protest Saturday to demand the immediate restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led government and the freeing of detainees.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.