There is a particular kind of silence that follows a gunshot. It is not merely the absence of sound; it is the disappearance of a witness. In Sudan, this silence has been deliberately cultivated for over 30 months, as the ongoing conflict systematically silences those who dare to report on it. This deliberate silencing isn’t a byproduct of war; it’s increasingly a core component of it, a sustained attack on Sudanese journalism that threatens to erase the truth and exacerbate the crisis.
The Vanishing Witnesses: A War on Information in Sudan
The war in Sudan isn’t confined to clashes between armies. It’s a battle for the narrative, a struggle to control what the world knows – and what it doesn’t. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have consistently treated independent reporting as a hostile act, particularly in the devastated region of Darfur. Journalists there face severe repercussions, even punishment, simply for documenting the reality on the ground. Simultaneously, authorities aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces have tightened their grip on the media, suspending journalists and revoking accreditations under the guise of “national security” and “public interest,” further constricting an already fragile space for free expression.
This isn’t simply about controlling the flow of information; it’s about eliminating the possibility of accountability. When witnesses disappear, so too does the evidence of atrocities, and the hope for justice.
2025: The Hardening of a Strategy
By 2025, the initial silencing of voices had hardened into a clear and unmistakable strategy: a full-scale war on journalism in Sudan. This strategy isn’t born of chaos, but of calculated intent. Suppressing reporting doesn’t create stability; it breeds rumour, misinformation, and ultimately, more violence. When verified information is absent, propaganda, sectarian incitement, and panic flourish, outpacing the ability of facts to gain traction.
Reuters has documented the alarming deterioration of Sudan’s independent media landscape, detailing the looting of newsrooms, the forced closure of outlets, and the mass exodus of journalists seeking safety abroad. This has created a dangerous vacuum, a fertile ground for a severe disinformation crisis at a time when accurate reporting is desperately needed.
A Mounting Toll: Journalists Killed and Silenced
The statistics are stark and chilling. According to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, at least 32 journalists have been killed since the conflict erupted in April 2023. Beyond the fatalities, over 550 documented violations have been committed against media workers, including arbitrary detentions, intimidation tactics, and deliberate obstruction of their work.
These aren’t abstract numbers; they represent individual lives lost and the systematic erosion of the public’s right to know. In the spring of 2024, Sudanese journalists issued a desperate plea, detailing the deliberate silencing of the media through harassment, murder, and forced exile, highlighting the plight of detained and missing colleagues. UNESCO has echoed these concerns, warning that the killing and forced displacement of journalists have become defining characteristics of the conflict.
Specific Cases of Targeted Violence
The pattern of attacks became increasingly evident throughout 2025.
- March: A Sudanese state television crew reporting from Khartoum was struck by an RSF drone attack, resulting in the deaths of producer Farouk al-Zahir, camera operator Magdy Abdel Rahman, editor Ibrahim Mudawi, and their driver.
- April: Broadcast journalist Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Sayyidna was killed during shelling in el-Fasher.
- May: Correspondent Hassan Fadl al-Mawla Mousa was killed when the RSF seized al-Nuhud in West Kordofan.
- October: Radio journalist Alnor Suleiman Alnor was fatally hit by an RSF drone attack on his home in el-Fasher, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
- November: Taj al-Sir Ahmed Suleiman, head of the Sudan News Agency’s el-Fasher office, was killed by RSF fighters who reportedly entered his home and murdered him and his brother.
These incidents, viewed collectively, reveal a disturbing truth: journalism in Sudan is not merely dangerous; it is actively being criminalized.
The Weaponization of Silence and Detention
Detention, like killing, serves as a potent warning. The case of Muammar Ibrahim, a freelance correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, detained by the RSF in late 2025, exemplifies the cost of reporting from Darfur. Described as an unlawful abduction by the CPJ, Ibrahim’s detention was justified by the RSF as an “investigation” into alleged defamation related to his reporting.
Public statements by Alaa Nugud, a representative of the RSF-backed “Tasis” administration, accusing Ibrahim of fueling regional conflict, further heightened fears for his safety. The Sudanese Journalists Network expressed “extreme worry” about his fate. This contradiction – claiming commitment to democracy while silencing dissenting voices – is deeply troubling. Detention isn’t just about removing a single reporter; it’s about sending a chilling message to all others.
The Consequences of a Silenced Press
In el-Fasher, where communications blackouts are frequent, journalists are both witnesses and victims. When visibility is lost, atrocities thrive. Journalism is often considered a luxury to be restored after peace, but Sudan demonstrates the opposite: it is a vital form of damage control. It’s how societies prevent panic, curb incitement, and contain the spread of lies that fuel further violence.
When reporters are silenced, a rumour economy fills the void. A fabricated screenshot can trigger retaliation, a whisper can incite ethnic targeting, and a viral lie can mobilize crowds faster than any official statement. Online harassment, including doxxing and smear campaigns, has become an extension of the battlefield, translating into real-world danger.
The Path Forward: Protecting Journalism in Sudan
The international community must recognize that Sudan’s peace efforts will inevitably fail if the safety and freedom of journalists are not prioritized. Protection must move beyond rhetoric and be enshrined in concrete systems.
- The safety of journalists should be a diplomatic red line.
- The United Nations, African Union, and influential states must demand accountability for attacks on journalists and impose targeted sanctions on those responsible.
- Emergency support – including evacuation, relocation, trauma care, legal aid, and equipment replacement – must be provided to journalists, particularly local reporters and freelancers who face the highest risks.
- Technology platforms must actively combat the spread of disinformation and protect journalists from online harassment.
- Support for Sudanese-led cross-border publishing and verification networks is crucial.
The RSF must be held directly accountable: release detained journalists, disclose the fate of those who are missing, and cease treating reporting as an act of espionage.
If 2025 was the year Sudanese journalism bled in plain sight, then 2026 must be the year it is allowed to breathe again. A society without journalists is not safer; it is louder with lies and easier to brutalize. When Sudan loses its journalists, it loses its collective memory – and the world loses the opportunity to learn from its tragedies and prevent them from happening again.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.