Sudan Media Forum Sounds Alarm on Press Freedom Violations Amid Ongoing Conflict
Journalists Face Systematic Violence and Censorship in War-Torn Sudan
On World Press Freedom Day, the Sudan Media Forum has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating conditions for journalists in Sudan since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023. The media landscape has become increasingly dangerous, with journalists facing existential threats from all parties involved in the conflict.
Documented Violations Against Journalists
The Forum has recorded numerous serious violations against media professionals, including:
- Killings and Direct Targeting: Journalists have been killed while performing their duties, constituting war crimes under International Humanitarian Law.
- Arbitrary Detention: Many reporters have been held in inhumane conditions, with some subjected to torture and enforced disappearance.
- Threats and Intimidation: Constant danger has forced journalists into self-censorship or complete withdrawal from their work.
- Mass Displacement: Approximately 1,000 journalists have been internally displaced, with 500 fleeing the country entirely.
Deteriorating Press Freedom Environment
The conflict has created an environment of severe repression, with media institutions shuttered or destroyed and information deliberately withheld from the public. This crisis has caused Sudan to drop seven places in the World Press Freedom Index, now ranking 156th out of 180 countries.
Sudan Media Forum’s Call to Action
On World Press Freedom Day, the Forum has issued several critical demands:
- Immediate cessation of all attacks against journalists
- Release of all detained media professionals
- International pressure for independent investigations into crimes against journalists
- Recognition of journalism’s vital role in peacebuilding and accountability
The Forum has documented alarming statistics: 31 journalists killed (8 while on duty), 67 assaulted (33 shot), and 69 detained. These attacks represent not just assaults on individuals but on Sudanese society’s right to information and truth.
Commitment to Continued Advocacy
The Sudan Media Forum vows to continue monitoring violations and defending press freedom, emphasizing that Sudan’s future depends on a free and responsible media environment.
This statement was published by Sudan Media Forum member organizations to mark World Press Freedom Day and highlight the dire situation facing journalists in Sudan.
Original source: Dabanga Sudan