How a U.S. Agency Controlled Sudan’s Social Media Networks to Support Hamdok
Sudan Events – Agencies
Recent investigations published by the blog Global Contrarians, led by British journalist Kit Klarenberg, have revealed alarming details about the covert role played by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in supporting Sudan’s transitional government under Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in 2019. This was reportedly done through a secret contract with a controversial British company called Valent Projects.
Surveillance and Targeting of Opponents
According to the leaks, Valent’s role went far beyond countering misinformation as officially claimed. Instead, it expanded to include monitoring and analyzing digital content and targeting political opponents on social media platforms, in an attempt to suppress voices critical of Hamdok’s government, which came to power following the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
Propaganda Campaigns to Cement U.S.-Backed Transitional Rule
Leaked documents from USAID revealed that its Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) worked closely with Sudanese ministries and established media offices in several states under the guise of “combating disinformation.” However, the real goal was to advance U.S. interests and bolster Hamdok’s fragile transitional administration.
Suspicious Funding Raises Questions
The investigation indicated that Valent Projects received over one million dollars from the OTI for its media services. However, this funding was not listed in the British company’s official financial records, raising serious questions about the transparency of the funding and the legality of the operations carried out.
Close Coordination with a Weak Transitional Government
OTI conducted its media and propaganda activities in collaboration with Sudanese ministries, aiming to promote the image of the transitional government and attack online opposition until Hamdok’s government collapsed in October 2021 amid accusations of corruption, repression, and violations of press freedom.
Facebook Deletes Massive Sudanese Network Based on Valent Reports
In June 2021, Meta announced the removal of a vast network of dozens of Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups in Sudan, based on information provided by Valent. The deleted network was estimated to have reached over 6 million followers.
Critics: We Were Targeted for Opposing Hamdok’s Government
In response, administrators of the affected Sudanese pages denied any involvement in harmful or deceptive behavior. They asserted that their online activity was limited to criticizing the transitional government, which they described as repressive and politically and economically ineffective.
Hamdok’s U.S.-Backed Government Collapses Amid Accusations
The U.S.-supported government of Sudan collapsed in October 2021 after a short tenure, amid allegations of financial and administrative corruption, suppression of dissent, and severe restrictions on media and public opinion.
Valent: A Media Front with an Intelligence Agenda
The background of Valent’s CEO, Amil Khan, raises further suspicions. Khan previously worked on propaganda campaigns during the Syrian war, backed by Western intelligence agencies like the CIA and MI6—adding weight to doubts about the true nature of Valent’s operations in Sudan.
A Recycled Strategy from Sudan to Ukraine
According to the investigation, similar propaganda tactics were later used in Ukraine, where Valent cooperated with the UK Ministry of Defence to support Ukraine against Russia, in a model strikingly similar to what was implemented in Sudan.
Who Controls Public Opinion in Sudan?
These revelations have sparked serious concerns about the independence of Sudan’s decision-making, especially given the heavy reliance on social media platforms as the main tool for shaping public opinion in the country.
Source: Sudafax
