How the digital space is being used in the Sudan conflict

At least 900 potentially hijacked Twitter accounts are being used to retweet content posted by the head of the Rapid Support Force (RSF) in Sudan, according to new research.

The Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) at the Atlantic Council said the accounts were boosting statements by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo the head of the RSF and deputy leader of Sudan’s ruling council, as part of an online propaganda war with their rivals the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

The findings released on Tuesday show that in addition to the battle being fought with tanks and artillery in Sudan, there is also a battle to shape online narratives.

Much of the reported amplification occurred after the outbreak of violence on 15 April, with content echoing RSF narratives being promoted.

“The accounts followed a similar pattern: after remaining inactive for years, many became active again in December 2022, tweeting a string of characters lifted from Wikipedia pages, then boosting tweets from Hemeti and the RSF,” said the report, referring to Dagalo by his commonly used nickname Hemeti.

Sudan turmoil: How the digital space is being used in the conflict