The internet is down and the streets are empty of pedestrians in South Sudan after calls for demonstrations

South Sudan’s internet was disrupted on Monday and security forces deployed in the streets after activists called for protests against President Salva Kiir’s government, leaving the capital, Juba, quieter than usual as residents opted to stay at home.

On Sunday, a coalition of activists called for rallies calling for Kiir’s resignation. However, by mid-noon, there was no indication that large rallies were taking place in the streets in Juba, and some activists told Reuters they were hiding for security reasons.
Activists accuse Kiir’s government of corruption and failure to protect the population or provide basic services, while the government has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses and corruption groups.

Police said the activists did not seek permission to protest and therefore any large demonstration would be illegal.

“We have deployed forces at least to maintain order in case of any problem. These forces are on the streets for your safety,” explained police spokesman Daniel Justin Boulogne.

Mobile data allowing internet access was not available on MTN late Sunday, and by Monday morning it was also turned off on Zain.

Alp Tucker, director of NetBlocks, a London-based group that monitors internet disruptions, said it had detected “significant disruption to internet service in South Sudan starting Sunday evening, including on leading cellular networks”.