juba, south sudan, dec. 4 — The Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Peter Lam Both, warned Tuesday that social media in South Sudan may be shut down if online rumors persist. Both’s statement comes after claims circulated online alleging that Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, was sworn in as acting president and had ordered an audit of the first family’s accounts.

Speaking at a press conference at the SPLM House, Both emphasized that the SPLM supports freedom of expression but would act against its misuse. “If social media becomes an anti-SPLM tool, we will allow those who have the capacity to shut it down to do so,” Both said. He urged citizens to avoid spreading false information, highlighting that abuse of such freedoms could lead to restrictions.

Both pointed to recent instances of “negative propaganda” targeting the SPLM on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter). He attributed the campaigns to “disgruntled South Sudanese anti-peace elements and foreign agents,” accusing them of spreading disinformation to create division within the government and SPLM leadership.

Despite challenges to press freedom, South Sudan’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Article 24. However, Both’s remarks signal rising tensions between the government’s commitment to constitutional rights and its concerns over misinformation.