The ongoing conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the nation into a crisis of press freedom, with journalists increasingly becoming targets of grave violations.
The situation has left many fearing for their lives while attempting to document the war.
Since the conflict erupted, 13 journalists—men and women—have been killed, and over 500 others have been attacked amid a deliberate and sustained media blackout.
Both warring factions have expressed dissatisfaction with independent media coverage, resorting to threats, hate speech, and misinformation campaigns.
“Journalists are risking their lives every day,” said a spokesperson for the Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate.
“They face arrest, torture, sexual violence, and even death threats as they try to report on the realities of this war.”
Media outlets in Khartoum have suffered heavy damage, with offices bombed and journalists trapped in crossfire.
The RSF seized Sudan’s national radio and television headquarters in the early days of the conflict, detaining several journalists and technical staff.
The Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate and Reporters Without Borders have decried the atmosphere of impunity in the country, where journalist killings and abuses are met with inaction.
According to the syndicate, there have been at least 60 documented cases of abduction and forced detention, including nine female journalists.
Arbitrary censorship has also stifled the press, while threats and physical assaults against journalists remain rampant.
A grim tally reveals 58 reported cases of personal threats—26 targeting women journalists—and 27 instances of physical assaults and property theft, three of which involved female reporters.
The syndicate has called for urgent measures to protect journalists and ensure justice.
“The international community must act to end impunity, improve conditions for journalists, and uphold press freedom in Sudan,” the syndicate said in a statement.
As the conflict persists, the fight to safeguard the rights and safety of journalists remains a crucial battlefront in Sudan’s unfolding tragedy.
