To curb the spread of “terrorist” propaganda, the Somali government announced on Sunday its decision to ban the video-sharing application TikTok, the encrypted messaging service Telegram, and the popular online betting site 1XBET by Thursday. The Ministry of Communications and Technology cited concerns over misinformation and harmful content being disseminated through these platforms.
The ministry contends that TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET have been used to share posts portraying instances of extortion, threats against young girls and boys, as well as graphic violent imagery, all with the aim of “spreading immorality” and “misleading public opinion”.
According to the ministry, the prohibition of these three platforms is expected to “accelerate the fight against terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people”.
To curb the spread of such propaganda, internet service providers are being enlisted. The Ministry of Communications has given them until the following Thursday to block access to these platforms, under the threat of legal action.
This decision comes on the brink of a critical second phase of the military offensive against the al-Shabaab group, an Islamist organization that has been challenging the central government in Mogadishu for over fifteen years. Just last week, the Somali president declared his intent to eliminate the presence of Islamists from the country within the next five months. This move marks a significant step in Somalia’s ongoing efforts to counter terrorism and maintain regional stability.