RSF shut down Sudan’s telecoms network: Zain CEO
February 9, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – The CEO of Zain Sudan, Al-Fateh Erwa, stated that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stopped the main terminals of telecommunications network in Sudan and added that the disruption of the Darfur network due to damage caused by the war.
This complete blackout dubbed the “Sudan Blackout” on social media, left millions isolated and deprived them of vital information and resources. While the Sudanese government pointed fingers at the RSF, the latter vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that the army had halted the Darfur network over three months ago.
In statements to a YouTube channel on Thursday, Erwa said that they did not receive any official directives from the government to cease the service. However, the RSF, in control of the company’s terminals in southern Khartoum, deliberately halted the electrical generators powering the central database governing the entire communication network.
“They simply switched off the generators,” he remarked.
Dominating the telecommunications market in Sudan are Kuwaiti Zain, South Africa’s MTN, and Sudanese Sudani companies. Nevertheless, communication engineers revealed that these companies only possess alternative backup operators for emergencies within Khartoum.
Regarding the network disruption in Darfur, the head of Sudan’s largest communications company attributed the service interruption to the destruction of numerous towers, sabotage of the fibre network, and power outages.
He asserted that the paramilitary group demanded the restoration of services in Darfur as a prerequisite for restarting the network in the rest of the country.
“After the fall of the cities of Darfur, the network was cut off for known technical reasons. Subsequently, the RSF contacted Zain staff members at the control centre in Jabra, southern Khartoum, to restore the network in the region.”
The company requested RSF assistance due to the insecurity in the region for repair, maintenance, and fuel supply to Darfur stations. Initially agreeing, the paramilitary group later slowed down and failed to follow through, leaving Darfur without a network.
Erwa disclosed that the RSF recently reinitiated contact, urging Zain to restore service to Darfur. While Zain’s technical teams diligently worked on restoring the network to El-Geneina and gradually Nyala, the RSF persisted in shutting down electricity generators, attempting to sever the network nationwide.
“The RSF holds the key to restoring the network,” he cautioned, emphasizing the potential complications arising from a prolonged suspension period.
On the matter, the Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority declared last Monday that the RSF intentionally severed service from the data centres of Sudani and MTN.
(ST)