The Somali government has announced a ban on the social media platforms TikTok and Telegram, as well as the online betting platform 1XBet. The government claims that those who spread immorality and terrorist organisations use these platforms to disseminate graphic videos, photos, and false information.
“The minister of communications orders internet companies to stop the aforementioned applications, which terrorists and immoral groups use to spread constant horrific images and misinformation to the public,” the minister, Jama Hassan Khalif, announced on Sunday.
The ban comes after a series of high-profile attacks in Somalia, including a bombing in Mogadishu that killed at least 9 people. The government says that the attackers used social media to plan and coordinate their attacks.
The ban has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support the ban, saying that it is necessary to protect the country from extremism. Others have criticised the ban, saying that it is an infringement on freedom of expression. Others have said it is targetting the wrong location.
“Somalia Banning TikTok and Telegram is not even the news, the news is how many people in Somalia are connected to the internet? It’s only the middle class Somali and almost all of them are living in Nairobi Eastleigh and South C. There is no one in Somalia,” Pauline’ Njoroge, wrote on platform X (formerly Twitter).
The government has said that the ban will be temporary and that it will review the situation in the future.
The government has not said how it will enforce the ban. The ban is the latest in a series of measures taken by the Somali government to crack down on extremism.
The ban is a significant move by the Somali government, and it remains to be seen how effective it will be in preventing the spread of extremism and immorality.
