On 17 July 2026, the government of South Sudan officially began enforcing the Cybercrime and Computer Misuse Act, 2026, following Presidential Directive No. 03/2026. The law establishes a National Cyber-Security Steering Committee that will be chaired by the Minister of Justice, and a National Cyber-Security Task Force to be led by the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service.
The Act criminalizes a wide range of online activities where Section 42 targets content deemed to promote tribalism, incite violence, or threaten national security, while Section 44 prohibits “false or misleading information” that could damage reputations, undermine public confidence, or cause panic. Offences such as cyberbullying and harassment carry penalties of up to five years imprisonment.
Government officials argue the law is necessary to protect digital infrastructure and ensure stability ahead of the December 2026 elections. However, civil society organizations and media groups have raised concerns that the Act’s broad and vague provisions could be used to suppress freedom of expression, silence journalists, and restrict civic activism online.