3.6. Journalists and other media workers

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: June 2025
 

This profile refers to journalists and other media workers perceived by the Sudanese authorities, the SAF, the RSF, or other armed groups as critical including those covering sensitive issues such as human rights violations, corruption or military activities.

Since the outbreak of the hostilities, journalists and other media workers have been targeted by both sides of the conflict, while many media outlets were forced to shut down and an estimated 90 % of the country’s media infrastructure has been destroyed. The difficult and dangerous environment for media work and reporting in general has led to significant underreporting of security incidents in Sudan.                                                                                                    

  Step 1: Do the reported acts amount to persecution?  

Some acts to which persons falling under this profile could be exposed are of such a severe nature that they would amount to persecution. These include targeted and extrajudicial killings, shootings, enforced disappearances, kidnappings, arbitrary and mass detentions, physical and sexual violence, lootings, injuries, beatings, assaults and death threats. Journalists faced torture and inhumane or degrading treatment in detention facilities, including prolonged solitary confinement and rape. The rise in number of attacks was especially reported in Khartoum, Darfur and the Kordofans since the beginning of the conflict. Gender-based violence (GBV) against female journalists, including rape and sexual assault were also reported. See 3.9.1. Violence against women and girls.

The severity and/or repetitiveness of other acts that journalists and media workers could be subjected to, and whether they occur as an accumulation of various measures, should be taken into account. Journalists and other media workers have been subjected to continuous harassment and intimidation reportedly to prevent them from reporting on the conflict or to pressure them to present a more favourable view of one side of the conflict. Methods of intimidation include surveillance, social media hate speech or threats, travel bans, warnings against publishing certain information or expressing certain views. Also, defamation campaigns, including the publication of anonymous lists that classified journalists as working for one of the conflict parties have been reported, leading to many of them going into hiding. Systematic censorship and restrictions to the exercise of the profession were also reported such as forced shutdown of independent media outlets, revocation of press credentials, armed takeovers of media buildings, damage or confiscation of equipment, raiding media stations and homes of journalists, repeated network disruptions and shutdowns of the internet. Reportedly Sudan experiences a 'systematic censorship' and suppression of information by both the SAF and the RSF, and journalists are restricted from speaking to international media and engage in self-censorship.

Relatives of journalists have also come under attack, including through killings, physical attacks and damages to their homes.

  Step 2: What is the level of risk of persecution?  

A well-founded fear of persecution would in general be substantiated for journalists and other media workers as they are systematically targeted by both warring parties. Additionally, their family members may also be targeted during attacks and house searches directed to journalists.

  Step 3: Is there a ground for persecution?  

Persecution of individuals under this profile is highly likely to be for reasons of (imputed) political opinion as journalistic work covering human rights violations and GBV, corruption, ethnic violence or military actions is perceived as political dissent, an attack on the legitimacy, and/or a threat to the warring parties.

For persecution of female journalists, by means of GBV, see 3.9.1. Violence against women and girls.