Somalia bans TikTok, Telegram, 1XBet to stop Al Shabaab terrorists

Somalia bans TikTok, Telegram, 1XBet to stop Al Shabaab terrorists
TOPSHOT - Security officers patrol near the destroyed Hayat Hotel after a deadly 30-hour siege by Al-Shabaab jihadists in Mogadishu on August 21, 2022. - At least 13 civilians lost their lives and dozens were wounded in the gun and bomb attack by the Al-Qaeda-linked group that began on Friday evening and lasted over a day, leaving many feared trapped inside the popular Hayat Hotel. (Photo by Hassan Ali ELMI / AFP) (Photo by HASSAN ALI ELMI/AFP via Getty Images)

Somalia has banned TikTok, messaging app Telegram, and online-betting website 1XBet to limit the spread of indecent content and propaganda, its communications minister said.

The order gave internet service providers until August 24 to comply.

Somalia has banned TikTok, messaging app Telegram, and online-betting website 1XBet to limit the spread of indecent content and propaganda, its communications minister said.

“The minister 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,” the minister, Jama Hassan Khalif, said in a statement.

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Members of the insurgent group Al Shabaab often post about their activities on TikTok and Telegram.

The decision comes days after Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said a military offensive against Al Shabaab aims to eliminate the Al Qaeda-linked group in the next five months.

The order gave internet service providers until August 24 to comply.

1XBet is popular in Somalia for betting, especially on soccer matches.

TikTok has been threatened with bans in the United States over its alleged ties to the Chinese government.

The state of Montana became the first to ban the app in May.

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