South Sudan violence hits mobile users

News from Elsewhere... ...as found by BBC Monitoring

Many South Sudanese mobile phone users rely on scratch cards to access networks

Supplies of pre-paid mobile phone scratch cards have been disrupted in South Sudan, hampering communication even in areas unaffected by violence, it's reported.

Top-up cards have been in short supply for two weeks in Eastern Equatoria, in the south of the country, according to the Juba-based Gurtong news website^[1]. The NGO-run site said the shortage had driven up prices for the few cards still available.

Supplies have now reached the regional capital Torit, however, where residents have urged the government to make sure the shortage doesn't reoccur.

East Equatoria has been relatively free of the violence which has hit other parts of the country. Over 1,000 people have died^[2] as a result of the clashes, which President Salva Kiir described as a failed coup attempt in the east African nation.

Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter.^[3]

References

1. ^{^} Juba-based Gurtong news website (www.gurtong.net)
2. ^{^} Over 1,000 people have died (www.bbc.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Twitter (twitter.com)