The government of Somalia has announced a ban on the video platform- TikTok, the messaging app-Telegram and the online bettingwebsite-1*BET claiming they are being used by terrorists to spread propaganda and indecent content.

Ministry of Communication and Technology made the announcement late Sunday ahead of anticipated second phase offensive against the Al-Shabaab. The minister of communication ordered internet service providers to implement the ban by August.24, 2023 or face legal action.

“The minster of communications orders internet companies to stop the aforementioned applications, which terrorists and immoral groups use to spread constant horrific images and misinformation to the public,” minister Jama Hassan Khalif said Sunday.

The Al-Shabaab terrorist group is known to share their content on tiktok and telegram. This order to ban these Apps comes after Somalia central government declares a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists from Somalia.

“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 1*BET betting applications which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society”, Ministry of Communication and Technology.

Somalia will not be the first country to ban the Chinese video platform, others include; India, which believes the platform is a threat to their security, Afghanistan- said the platform was not consistent which the Islamic laws among others.

The Islamist militant group-Al-Shabaab has been waging a bloody war against the central government of Somalia for over 15 years.

courtesy photo.