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Somalia — The Somali government has banned the social media platforms TikTok and Telegram, as well as an online betting app, over fears that they are being used by terrorists to spread propaganda.
The ban, which was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Communications and Technology, comes ahead of a much-anticipated second phase of a military offensive against Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has been waging a bloody insurgency against the central government in Mogadishu for more than 15 years.
In a statement, the ministry said that the ban was necessary to “accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people.”
“The terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications to spread graphic clips, photos, and mislead society,” the statement said.
The army has been waging an offensive against the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab in central Somalia since August last year, joining forces with local clan militias in an operation backed by African Union troops and US air strikes.
The ban on TikTok and Telegram is likely to have a significant impact on Somalis who use the platforms, as they are two of the most popular social media platforms in the country. TikTok is especially popular among young people, who use it to share videos of themselves dancing, lip-syncing, and performing other creative acts.
The ban has been met with mixed reactions from Somalis. Some people have welcomed the move, saying that it is necessary to stop the spread of terrorist propaganda. Others have criticized the ban, saying that it is an infringement on freedom of expression.
