By Theodore Jones –
Sudan restored limited internet connections on Thursday evening, three weeks after the country’s internet was turned off.
Limited services were authorized by telecom companies, providing some relief to people who had been without power since the military seized power and deposed Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok’s transitional government on October 25.
The decision to restore internet was made in response to a court ruling that telecom companies restore internet service as soon as possible, despite the military’s prolonged state of emergency.
According to the courts, services should be restored as soon as possible until the case challenging the blockade is heard and decided.
In the absence of the internet, activists have been using street protests to call for the immediate restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led government.
However, security forces responded brutally on Wednesday, leaving many protesters dead and other injured.
The incident received condemnation fro
Molly Phee, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, condemned the security officers’ use of force against protesters.
Ms Phee had just left the country after a two-day visit where she met military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok who is still under house arrest.
The military also detained a number of cabinet ministers when it toppled the government, ostensibly because the transitional authority had fallen victim to wrangles, according to Burhan.
Reuters