Abdel-Adheem Hassan, Sudanese Consumer Protection Society v. Zain Telecom

Facts 
Following a violent military crackdown on peaceful protesters, where many were killed in Khartoum in June 2019, Sudan’s Transitional Military Council ordered a nationwide internet shutdown. Khartoum-based lawyer, Abdel-Adheem Hassan, filed a case against telecom giant Zain for unlawfully blocking access to the internet after mobile and fixed internet services were cut, allegedly to prevent protest organization and dissemination of footage documenting human rights abuses. 

Question 

Was the internet shutdown ordered by Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and enforced by telecom companies a violation of one’s rights to access information and freedom of expression? 

Decision 
A Sudanese court ruled in Hassan’s favour, restoring only his internet access as the case had been filed in a personal capacity. However, he subsequently filed broader cases on behalf of other users and won similar rulings against other telecom companies (MTN and Sudani), prompting full-service restoration. These legal victories established that while telecom companies may be compelled by state authorities to disrupt access, they still owe duties of transparency and accountability to users. The court criticized the shutdown as unlawful, citing the absence of a written directive and the public’s right to access information. The case marked a pivotal moment in Sudan’s post-revolution transition, reinforcing digital rights and the right to freedom of expression amid efforts to build a civilian-led democracy.