Sudanese users frustrated by Twitter amid political turmoil
January 24, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Ever since the ouster of former president Omer Hassan al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan has managed to emerge from the cold of sanctions and status as international pariah into the fold of international community.
This was evident in the U.S. decision in October 2020 to remove the East African nation from list of states that sponsor terrorism and having Sudan’s membership in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) reinstated after obtaining multilateral help to clear its arrears.
Moreover, major international corporations including technological giants such as Apple, Microsoft and Oracle amended their rules to lift decades long ban on providing its services to Sudanese users.
One notable name would not budge however: Twitter.
The social media company has so far refused to recognize Sudan as a geographical region thus denying its users from utilizing their local mobile numbers to set up their accounts.
No reason has been provided for this longstanding situation despite intense appeals and campaigns launched by Sudanese Twitter users over the last few years.
In response to one of these campaigns, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted in 2018 that they are working on setting up Sudan as a region but nothing has materialized.
In response to question from {Sudan Tribune} a Twitter spokesperson declined to explain why the San Francisco-based company would not recognize Sudan as a country
While some have speculated that sanctions may be the reason it is to be noted that US sanctioned countries such as Iran, Cuba and Venezuela are recognized by Twitter as geographical locations.
One of Sudanese activists who goes under Twitter handle @coladabey2 who closely covered the December 2018 revolution as well as ongoing post-coup protests complained that he had to jump through hoops to set up his account and maintain it.
“I cannot create an account with my [local Sudanese] number and any time there is an [security] issue [with my Twitter account ] I must contact someone outside Sudan to clear it up for me [using their phone number]” explained the activist who asked not to be identified by name.
“This is just a total waste of time and effort and also puts my Twitter account at risk of being hacked and eventually losing it” he added.
“If my account gets suspended I am unable to cover events in Sudan and tweet about them”.
Ahmed al-Taher, another Twitter user told {Sudan Tribune} that having to use a non-Sudanese number means he is at the mercy of someone outside the country.
“If Twitter logs me out for any reason I have to wait for that person [outside Sudan] to send me the verification code sent to his mobile phone”.
Karrar Hamid who runs the largest Sudanese media and services platform on Twitter that goes as @hash_Sudan with more than 600K followers echoed the same sentiment.
“Many users in Sudan have simply given up on Twitter as result of the hassle involved in setting up a new account. It is very frustrating and unfair. We deserve an explanation ” said Hamid.
Another issue also faced by Sudanese users is unwillingness of Twitter to verify accounts owned by public figures and institutions including government officials, entertainers and media outlets.
Late last year Twitter denied verification request submitted by Sudanese Ambassador to the United States Nureldin Satti (@SudanAmbUSA) despite submitting all the required documentation.
(ST)