South Sudan warns of rising digital abuse against women

JUBA — South Sudan’s government on Tuesday warned that digital violence against women and girls is rising rapidly, as expanding mobile networks and online platforms reshape social interaction in a country with weak digital safeguards and limited data protection laws.

Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services David Yauyau said online harassment, cyberstalking and abuse are increasingly spilling into offline harm, exposing gaps in South Sudan’s digital governance as the state pushes to expand digital services without comprehensive protections.

“We have a clear responsibility; the regulatory framework must evolve to meet this new threat. We must regulate platforms of abuse, and we must ensure that digital education includes robust training on online security, cyber protection, and reporting,” said Yauyau.

Speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at Rainbow Ground in Juba, Yauyau said women and girls are disproportionately affected as internet access grows through mobile phones, even as digital literacy and enforcement lag behind.

South Sudan has expanded reliance on mobile networks for public communication, digital payments and government coordination, but analysts say the same infrastructure is also used by authorities to monitor activists, journalists and political opponents, blurring the line between digital governance and surveillance.

European Union Ambassador to South Sudan Pelle Enarsson said the digital environment is creating new risks that existing laws are ill-equipped to address.

“As the digital world develops, many laws are needed to safeguard its practices. We urge the government to enact laws to protect data and safeguard online privacy to maximise the positive effects of digital development,” said Enarsson.

Human rights groups say the absence of strong data protection legislation and independent oversight leaves citizens — particularly women — vulnerable to abuse by private actors and potential misuse of digital systems by state institutions.

United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in South Sudan Anita Kiki Gbeho welcomed government efforts to address gender-based violence but warned that digital harm is intensifying amid overlapping national crises.

“The goal is clear; with national leadership, we can strengthen prevention, prosecute perpetrators, and enhance support for survivors. Data on GBV shows us clearly that gender-based violence remains one of the greatest barriers to peace, eroding trust and fracturing communities,” said Gbeho.

She said South Sudan is facing intersecting pressures from conflict, flooding, economic hardship and the influx of people fleeing the war in Sudan, all of which increase vulnerability to violence.

“As technology expands across South Sudan, we must ensure that it becomes a tool for empowerment and not exploitation, and that those who cause harm are held fully accountable.”

Sarah Cleto Hassan Rial, the Minister of Health, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said digital abuse has become a daily reality for many women and girls.

“Every day, young women and girls face online harassment, threats, bullying, blackmail, and non-consensual sharing of private images. Many of us, the women and girls, suffer silently,” said Rial.

She urged South Sudanese to commit to creating online spaces where women can participate freely and safely, warning that social media is increasingly being weaponised.

Civil society organisations say digital platforms have also become tools for intimidation and exploitation, particularly in a context where mobile data is expensive, reporting mechanisms are weak and online anonymity is limited.

Anna Tazita, Executive Director of Women for Change, said digital abuse must be treated as a broader human rights issue requiring coordinated action.

“Gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue; it is a human rights issue. We call upon the government, women-led organisations, partners, communities, and individuals, especially men, to join hands in ending all forms of violence, including the rising trend of digital abuse and exploitation,” said Tazita.

Digital rights advocates say that as South Sudan builds its digital public infrastructure — including biometric systems, mobile money and online services — the absence of safeguards risks entrenching both gender-based digital violence and state surveillance, undermining trust in digital systems meant to serve the public.