Sudan Loses 34 Journalists During the War

The Sudanese Journalists Union stated that 34 journalists have lost their lives since the outbreak of the war while performing their professional duty of reporting the truth. This marks one of the bloodiest periods in the history of journalism in the country, according to a statement issued by the union on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

The Union reported a total of 680 violations against journalists and media workers, including killing, displacement, arrest, enforced disappearance, physical assaults, threats, harassment, confiscation of equipment, and direct targeting of media institutions.

The union affirmed in a statement that these violations constitute grave crimes against society as a whole, as they deprive citizens of their natural right to know and undermine the foundations of any free and independent public sphere. It reiterated its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists, the immediate disclosure of the fate of the forcibly disappeared, and the publication of official lists of their names. It also called for enabling independent organizations to visit places of detention and ensuring the safety of detainees.

The statement clarified that any serious process of dialogue or democratic transition in Sudan cannot succeed without guaranteeing the independence of the media and placing it at the heart of this process, given that the media is not merely a conduit for events, but a key player in building trust, combating hate speech, and promoting transparency.

The statement continued, saying that the war in Sudan has become a struggle over narratives as much as it is a struggle for territory, and without a minimum of shared truth, sustainable peace cannot be built, nor can justice be achieved. Hence, the importance of professional media as guardians of truth and guarantors against the manipulation of public consciousness, according to the statement.

The Journalists Union warned against what it called attempts to control the media through censorship, intimidation, or propaganda. It noted that the militarization of the media not only prolongs the conflict but also deepens the division and undermines the chances for future reconciliation.

The Syndicate called for immediate legal and on-the-ground protection for journalists, the establishment of an independent and transparent mechanism to investigate crimes committed against journalists within a specific timeframe, an end to impunity, and accountability for those responsible for violations. It also stressed the need to guarantee unrestricted access to information, respect the independence of media institutions, and ensure their free and safe operation.