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International Press Institute calls for investigation into killing of 12 journalists in Sudan

The International Press Institute has documented the killing of 12 journalists since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, including suspected cases of journalists being targeted because of their work, while carrying out their duties, or as a result of military bombardment. In a report marking the first anniversary of the killing of journalist Halima Idris Salim, after she was run over by a military vehicle in Omdurman, he called for a transparent and independent investigation into the incident, as well as the killings of other journalists in Sudan. He called on the international community to urgently pressure the warring parties in Sudan to protect the safety of journalists and allow them to cover this ongoing conflict, which has seen a rapid deterioration in the humanitarian situation, as well as to respect media freedom. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Secretary General of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, said: The war has claimed the lives of 12 journalists so far, including two female journalists, and we will do our utmost to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. He added: "We affirm our full commitment to protecting freedom of the press and defending the right of journalists to perform their duties safely and without threat." Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, journalists and media outlets have faced multiple forms of intimidation and direct threats to their safety, including defamation on social media; arrest and detention; destruction of media infrastructure; and internet and communications blackouts, which have forced many journalists to flee the country. Three of Sudan's most famous media outlets, Sudan24, Al-Balad and BBC, were vandalized and looted in Khartoum, according to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, which called on all regional and international organizations defending press freedom to denounce these practices and work together to eliminate them. According to a number of journalists present on the ground, 26 paper newspapers have stopped publishing, while broadcasting has stopped on ten radio stations, while 7 local radio stations have been closed, and only two stations continue to broadcast randomly. International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention, as cited in UN Security Council Resolution 2222, requires that journalists and media workers working in areas of armed conflict be protected and allowed to carry out their work without pressure or threat, as attacks that deliberately target journalists constitute war crimes.