To stop the dissemination of offensive material and misinformation, Somalia has banned TikTok, Telegram, and the online betting platform 1XBet, according to the country's communications minister.
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 late on Sunday.
Al Shabaab militants frequently post about their operations on TikTok and Telegram.
The choice was made a few days after the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, declared that a military effort against al Shabaab aimed to destroy the al Qaeda-affiliated organization in the following five months.
Requests for comment from Reuters were not immediately answered by TikTok, Telegram, or 1XBet.
Internet service providers had until August 24 to comply with the directive.
In Somalia, 1XBet is well-liked for sports betting, particularly on soccer games.
Due to its claimed connections to the Chinese government, TikTok has faced ban threats in the US. In May, Montana became the first state to outlaw the app.
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