The government of Somalia banned TikTok, Telegram, and an online betting app, 1XBet, on Sunday, August 20, 2023 after alleging that “terrorists” were using them to disseminate propaganda.
The move is being made in preparation for the second stage of a military offensive against Al-Shabab, an Islamist terrorist group that has been fighting the central government in Mogadishu for almost 15 years.
Internet service providers who fail to enforce the ban by August 24 will face “unspecified legal action,” according to a statement from the ministry of communications and technology.
“In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide Internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips and photos and mislead society.”
African Union troops and US air strikes have been supporting the army as they launch an attack against Al-Shabab in central Somalia alongside local clan militias since last August. Despite the government’s offensive, al-Shabab fighters still control large parts of the countryside and carry out deadly strikes on civilian, political, and military targets.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has promised to clear the unstable Horn of Africa country of the jihadists, and a second phase of the military operation against them in southern Somalia is expected to be announced soon.
TikTok has remained silent on the matter, saying that it is waiting to hear from authorities regarding the prohibition before making any more statements.
