Internet blackout across Sudan as crisis intensify

Military crackdown launched by the RAF on pro-democracy protesters killed at least 60 people in the Sudanese capital. The internet shutdown comes at a time when the nationwide civil disobedience campaign against the military regime, entered its second day.

Khartoum:Landline and internet connections were down across Sudan on Monday, a week after mobile online services were cut following a deadly crackdown on protesters.

The pro-democracy protests in the capital are being treated with tear gas, snipers and a wave of arrests and intimidation, by the Rapid Support Force (RSF).

The RSF is the militia group used by the military regime to silence the pro-reform protesters and the group have been accused of systemic human rights violation.

Internet lines from the country's main provider Sudatel stopped working in the capital Khartoum in the early afternoon and the outage had affected embassies, luxury hotels and offices.

Cybersecurity monitor Netblocks said "an almost total blackout" started around noon local time.

"It's the first time Sudantel has cut off everything in the country," a spokesman for the group said.

The cuts come as a nationwide civil disobedience campaign entered its second day against the country's ruling generals who took power after the ouster of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir in April.

The Sudanese Professionals Association, the leading opposition group said the campaign would run until the generals handed power to a civilian government.

The campaign kicked off nearly a week after an assault on demonstrators at a sit-in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum left dozens dead and crushed hopes for a swift democratic transition.

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