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In Sudan’s Digital Battlefield, Misinformation and Hate Fuel Real-World Atrocities
Communications shutdowns and orchestrated online campaigns have become strategic weapons in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, as experts revealed during a recent panel discussion organized by Digihub Africa’s “Hold Before You Send It” campaign.
The online event brought together specialists from Radio Dabanga, Access Now, Build Up, and The African Middle East Leadership Project (AMEL) to examine how digital manipulation has accelerated ethnic violence and complicated humanitarian response efforts across the war-torn nation.
“Shutdowns are not random nor accidental—they’re a method of warfare and intentional policy,” explained Marwa Fatafta, Advocacy Director at Access Now. Her organization documented four major communications blackouts in Sudan during 2025, including the critical WhatsApp ban and communications blackout surrounding El Fasher during the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) final assault on the city.
These deliberate disruptions often precede and cover up atrocities. The most notorious example came during the 2019 sit-in massacre in Khartoum, when communications were severed as security forces moved against protesters.
The conflict has decimated Sudan’s media infrastructure, with approximately 90 percent of conventional media outlets damaged or destroyed and around 80 percent of journalists displaced from their work. This information vacuum has created fertile ground for propaganda and ethnic incitement.
“Independent journalism in Sudan is survival, not a luxury,” emphasized Amgad Abdelgadir from Radio Dabanga. He described how social media platforms have rushed to fill the void left by traditional media, but without journalistic standards or accountability mechanisms.
“Social media platforms are no longer just mirrors in conflict—they have a role in shaping it,” Abdelgadir noted, pointing to emerging phenomena like “Report a Collaborator” Facebook pages that have proliferated in areas recaptured from RSF by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied Sudan Shield forces.
These online spaces often precede acts of collective punishment and vigilante violence against perceived collaborators, frequently targeting specific ethnic groups associated with opposing military factions.
Digital platforms have become battlegrounds themselves, with clear patterns emerging in how the warring parties leverage different platforms. According to Hussam Abualfatah and Mahmoud Bastati from the nonprofit Build Up, the RSF has established a stronger presence on TikTok, while SAF and its supporters dominate Facebook conversations. Notably, civilian pro-democracy forces are significantly underrepresented across all platforms.
“What’s happening in Sudan goes beyond social media,” Abualfatah warned. “There is a cost being paid by civilians.”
The conflict has created what AMEL’s Eilaf Mohamed describes as “the perfect incubator for disinformation.” Her research revealed that while concerns about AI-generated deepfakes exist, the greater threat comes from people refusing to acknowledge authentic content that contradicts their preferred narratives.
“Instead of disinformation shaping belief, disinformation is shaped by existing belief,” Mohamed explained. This creates a dangerous cycle where factual information about atrocities can be dismissed as fabricated, regardless of evidence.
Abdelgadir from Radio Dabanga noted that concerns about AI-generated “suffering videos” have eroded trust in genuine footage, making it easier for perpetrators to deny documented human rights abuses. Parties to the conflict regularly claim victims were aligned with opponents to justify violence, often along ethnic lines.
While technical solutions like AI detection tools and platform regulation are often proposed, Mohamed argues that behavioral change through improved media literacy represents the most effective countermeasure. Teaching users to verify information from reliable sources and developing critical thinking skills are essential to breaking the cycle of misinformation.
The panel highlighted how Sudan’s experience demonstrates that digital manipulation is not merely an online problem but a force multiplier for real-world violence. Until significant improvements in digital literacy occur among Sudan’s social media users, online hate speech and disinformation will continue to shape—and intensify—the country’s conflict dynamics.
As part of its response, Digihub Africa’s “Hold Before You Send It” campaign aims to raise awareness of online hate speech, promote digital literacy, and encourage young people in conflict zones to think critically before sharing potentially harmful content.
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14 Comments
The insights from this panel are deeply concerning. The Sudanese government’s deliberate disruption of digital communication to obscure human rights abuses is a troubling tactic that undermines transparency and accountability. Protecting journalists, securing internet access, and ensuring the free flow of information are critical to shining a light on the truth in this conflict. This is an issue that deserves urgent international attention and action.
Absolutely. The weaponization of communication shutdowns to cover up atrocities is a grave violation of human rights that cannot be tolerated. Upholding press freedom and restoring open digital channels will be essential for documenting the reality on the ground and supporting vulnerable populations in Sudan.
The panel’s insights on the Sudanese government’s tactics of digital manipulation and media suppression are alarming. Cutting off communication channels seems to be a calculated move to control the narrative and prevent reporting on abuses. This is a troubling trend we’ve seen elsewhere as well.
Agreed, the weaponization of digital infrastructure is a concerning tactic that undermines democratic values and the free flow of information. Protecting journalists and independent media voices is critical to shining a light on the truth during these conflicts.
The revelations about how the Sudanese government is deliberately disrupting communication networks to obscure human rights abuses are deeply troubling. This strategic weaponization of digital infrastructure is a troubling trend that threatens to undermine transparency and accountability. International pressure and support for independent journalism will be crucial to countering this.
You make an excellent point. Maintaining open and secure digital communication is vital for documenting the truth, coordinating humanitarian aid, and giving voice to those affected by the conflict. The international community must act to uphold press freedom and the free flow of information, even in the face of such repressive tactics.
It’s disturbing to see how the Sudanese authorities have leveraged communication shutdowns as a strategic weapon in their conflict. Cutting off access to information and platforms like WhatsApp effectively silences local voices and makes it harder to document human rights violations. This is a worrying trend that merits close international scrutiny.
You raise an important point. Disrupting digital communication channels deprives citizens of vital information and the ability to coordinate humanitarian aid and response efforts. This only exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire.
This panel discussion sheds light on the complex interplay between digital technologies, misinformation, and real-world violence in Sudan’s ongoing crisis. The insights on how communication shutdowns are used to cover up atrocities are alarming and underscore the need for greater international attention and action to protect press freedom and human rights in the region.
Absolutely. The findings highlight the importance of preserving open and secure digital communication platforms, even (or especially) during times of conflict. Safeguarding access to information and the free flow of facts is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and supporting affected populations.
This is a concerning report on the weaponization of digital communication in the Sudanese conflict. It’s troubling to see how shutdowns and disinformation are being used to obscure atrocities. I hope the international community can find ways to support free and open access to information during crises like this.
You’re right, the strategic use of communications blackouts to cover up violence is a serious human rights issue. Preserving press freedom and access to the truth is crucial, especially in volatile conflict zones.
This panel discussion shines a much-needed spotlight on the Sudanese government’s use of communication blackouts and disinformation to conceal atrocities. It’s a chilling example of how digital tools can be weaponized to erode transparency and enable human rights violations. Urgent action is needed to protect journalists, restore internet access, and ensure the truth about the conflict can be shared with the world.
I agree wholeheartedly. Preserving press freedom and unfettered communication channels is essential for holding perpetrators accountable and supporting the affected populations in Sudan. The international community must exert pressure and provide practical support to counter these repressive tactics.