South Sudanese authorities have suspended access to social media platforms for at least 30 days following the circulation of videos allegedly showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state.

The footage triggered riots and deadly revenge attacks across the country.

The directive, effective from midnight on Wednesday, was issued by Napoleon Adok, director general of the National Communications Authority, in a letter addressed to internet service providers. “This is culminating from the recent upheaval in Sudan that has exposed the South Sudanese population to unprecedented levels of extreme violence through social media posts,” Adok stated in the letter.

Mobile operators MTN South Sudan and Zain confirmed the block in statements, noting that platforms such as Facebook and TikTok would remain inaccessible for up to 90 days. A Reuters journalist in Juba confirmed they could not access the platforms.

The social media block follows violent unrest in which at least 16 Sudanese nationals were killed last week during riots in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and other cities.

The violence saw youths looting and vandalizing shops owned by Sudanese nationals and setting homes ablaze. Authorities said the attacks were in retaliation for what the rioters believed to be the involvement of Sudan’s military and allied groups in the killings in El Gezira.

The Sudanese army has condemned the incidents in El Gezira as “individual violations.”

The social media ban has drawn criticism from users, including prominent South Sudanese musician and comedian Isaac Anthony Lumori, known as Mc Lumoex. “The effect is huge because as an artist, I depend so much on social media,” Lumori said.

He urged the government to resolve the issue diplomatically by engaging Sudan’s government to prevent further violence.