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War in Sudan claims the lives of 20 journalists

A report issued by the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate revealed a horrific increase in the number of victims among journalists during the year 2024, as 16 journalists were killed, including three female journalists, bringing the death toll of journalists since the outbreak of the war in April 2023 to 20 journalists. The report explained that this outcome represents a 300% increase, compared to the year 2023, noting that violence against journalists was not limited to killing, but included media blackout, torture, and arbitrary arrest, as Sudanese journalists have become increasingly targeted, whether by direct killing or arrest, just for seeking to convey the truth to the world. He noted that a number of journalists are still languishing in prisons, amid the absence of law and continuing chaos. wholesale violations The union's Freedoms Secretariat recorded 110 violations during 2024, bringing the total documented violations since the outbreak of the war to 509 cases. The report added: Many other cases are unknown due to fear of disclosing them. The report considered that Sudanese journalists have been living in a "continuous hell" since the outbreak of the war, where they were subjected to the most heinous types of violations and paid a heavy price in their lives, security and livelihood. According to the report, the threats against journalists have not stopped, but have become systematic and constant. The report confirmed that freedom of the press and media has completely disappeared due to restrictions imposed by both parties to the conflict, in addition to the complete absence of legal guarantees that protect journalists in war situations. The communications blackout in many areas has led to a media blackout that has blocked the truth from the world and forced journalists to work in extremely dangerous conditions. The report stressed that local media outlets have lost their ability to provide accurate and neutral information, which has opened the door to media misinformation and manipulation of information, in light of the escalation of violence. Serious deterioration The report monitored a serious deterioration in the journalistic work environment, as many journalists were forced to work without contracts or any professional guarantees, which made them vulnerable to blackmail and risks, without any significant compensation. As a result, the crisis of reliable information worsened and rumors spread, which further complicated the media landscape and harmed citizens’ rights to access accurate information. The ongoing conflict has led to a near-total paralysis in the media sector, with most media institutions ceasing operations, while only three of the 22 local radio stations remain operating intermittently. At the end of the report, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate called for developing a strategy to support Sudanese journalists and strengthen mechanisms to hold perpetrators of violations accountable. The report also recommended providing protection to journalists in accordance with international laws, in addition to working to establish a legal framework that protects freedom of the press. The report also stressed the importance of the role of the international community in pressuring the parties to the conflict to protect journalists, stressing that the absence of accountability reinforces the environment of impunity. Complete destruction For her part, Iman Fadl, head of the Freedoms Committee at the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, indicated in press statements that the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate issued 14 reports documenting violations against journalists in the country. Fadl explained that the war in Sudan is a "guerrilla war" that includes many systematic practices against journalists and media professionals, as it is not officially recognized as a war, which increases the complexity of the security situation. She pointed out that about 90% of the media institutions in Sudan have been completely destroyed, which has made journalists unable to perform their duties freely, with great difficulty in moving between different regions under the current circumstances.