17 media organizations condemn repression in Sudan

The Sudanese Journalists Group and other media organizations have denounced media repression in Sudan since the outbreak of war in the country.

In a joint statement emailed to Eye Radio on Tuesday, titled “Sudanese Media”, over 17 media institutions and individual journalists say they are concerned by the deteriorating press freedom in the country.

“We call on the warring parties to immediately stop the war, open humanitarian passages, and enable the press and journalists to convey the truth to the public in Sudan and the world,” said the statement.

“Throughout the past four months, journalists in Sudan have encountered grave threats to their safety and freedom,” it stated.

“Accusations of bias, loyalty, and allegiance to warring parties have subjected them to arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, and even death, driven by the whims of the conflict’s actors,” added the statement.

According to the statement, female journalists are prone to gender-based violence, exacerbating the gender disparities prevalent within Sudanese society.

“This includes the imperative to safeguard women journalists from exposure to gender-based violence in all forms—verbal, sexual, and physical—necessitating coordination with national and international entities in their recovery,” the statement said.

The statement called on the international community to exert pressure on warring parties to uphold international humanitarian law, safeguarding journalists’ freedom to carry out their work and report freely, devoid of restrictions or censorship.

It also called on international and UN institutions to conduct “thorough investigations” into crimes perpetrated against Sudanese journalists and prosecute those responsible.

“Extend a call to press and media unions worldwide, along with international organizations committed to press freedom and protection, to stand in solidarity with Sudanese journalists,” read the statement.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to the figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry.