Journalists under attack, media devastated amidst Sudanese conflict
May 4, 2024 (KAMPALA) – Sudanese journalists are facing a relentless assault as the country’s ongoing conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to wreak havoc on the media landscape.
Iman Fadl Al-Sayed, Secretary of Freedoms at the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, brought this alarming situation to light at a forum for Sudanese Women Journalists in the Diaspora on World Press Freedom Day.
Al-Sayed revealed that the Sudanese government is targeting journalists, with 20 facing arrest based on accusations of belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Three journalists, Shuqui Abdel Azim, Maher Abu Al-Joukh, and Sabah Muhammad Al-Hassan, are in even greater peril, facing charges that could carry the death penalty, including war crimes and genocide, in connection with a case against civilian political leaders.
Further, she stressed that the conflict has decimated Sudan’s media, with an estimated 1,000 journalists, half the union’s membership, losing their jobs. The intimidation and harassment have driven many journalists, particularly women (at least 200), to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, with Egypt being a popular destination.
Clear targeting
Fadl Al-Sayed stated that since the conflict’s outbreak on April 15, 2023, the media has become a target for both sides, forcing many media outlets out of business and leaving most journalists unemployed.
The Syndicate estimated that 90% of media infrastructure has been destroyed or looted, leading to closures and “the absence of professional media and the assassination of truth due to a lack of credible information and news.”
“As a result,” she added, “coverage adhering to professional ethics has declined in favour of war media and misleading news. Both sides of the conflict monopolize information, broadcasting fabricated information fuelled by the war machine, while harmful rhetoric erodes society’s fabric.”
This attack on journalists and the media is silencing independent reporting and replacing it with propaganda. The Sudanese people are left in the dark, unable to rely on a free press for accurate information about the ongoing conflict, she emphasized.
Challenges faced by female journalists
Iman Fadl Al-Sayyed highlighted the disproportionate impact of the war on female journalists. Two women were assassinated, while others faced gender-based violence.
Eighty per cent of female journalists lost their jobs, and hundreds lost their property and basic rights enshrined in international conventions, including housing, work, and a decent life.
Journalist Arafa Khawaja’s ordeal exemplifies the suffering. Three of her sons were killed in El Geneina before she fled with her daughters across the border to Chad while heavily pregnant. She gave birth during this harrowing escape.
Similarly, journalist Etemad Al-Mirawi lost her mother, two sisters, and her sister’s son when a shell struck their Omdurman home. Her brother, Amal Marhoum, was also killed in Khartoum after their house was raided. Journalist Magda Dhaifullah’s father suffered the same fate in Nyala, South Darfur.
Currently, 20 female journalists face significant challenges reporting from conflict zones.
The Journalists Syndicate documented 393 cases of direct violations against journalists and media outlets, most related to their profession. These violations include murder, physical assault, kidnapping, and arrest. The union also reported at least one case of sexual violence against a female journalist.
Journalists are pursued by violence
Fadl Al-Sayyed revealed chilling details about threats and intimidation. Forty-three journalists, including 16 women, faced personal threats and defamation campaigns.
Both male and female journalists have been caught in the crossfire, sustaining injuries from gunfire in the streets and workplaces. Their homes have also been targeted in bombings, leading to the deaths of family members and the destruction of property.
“Raids on journalists’ homes are a daily occurrence during the war,” Fadl Al-Sayed stated. “These raids involve looting and destruction of property. In some cases, homes are converted into military barracks.”
The Syndicate reported at least 100 journalists’ homes being raided. “Raiding forces specifically inquire about journalists and investigate with neighbours to locate them if they’re not present,” she added.
Harsh realities for female journalists
Sabah Adam, director of the Al-Alq Center for Press Services, revealed the plight of over 40 female journalists displaced by the conflict. Forced to seek refuge in shelters within Kassala state, they face further restrictions on their right to free expression. Accusations of belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) add another layer of threat.
“Female journalists are disproportionately impacted,” Adam said. “Displaced with their families to supposed safe areas, they now reside in shelters often unequipped for work. Some share cramped living conditions with relatives. They face internet blackouts and restrictions on movement, fearing harassment or even sexual violence.”
Beyond physical limitations, Adam highlighted the media smear campaign targeting female journalists, often portrayed as “agents” or “mercenaries” by certain groups. This further fuels the fear and vulnerability they experience.
She revealed the chilling tactic employed by some female journalists in Al-Jazirah, Sennar, and White Nile states – burying their phones to prevent them from falling into RSF hands.
Further restrictions were reported by Adam. Shelter homes in Atbara city, Nile River State, reportedly deny entry to female journalists unless approved by Army Military Intelligence.
Undercounting the problem
Abeir Saadi, a safety and ethical journalism expert, raised concerns about the underestimation of violations against female journalists in Sudan.
“Many women are afraid to speak out about the abuse they’ve endured,” Saadi explained.
Saadi emphasized the gender-based challenges that exacerbate the situation, leading to an increase in sexual and physical violence against female journalists. Additionally, she pointed out how tribal and ethnic tensions in specific regions heighten the risks they face.
Personal tragedy
Lana Awad, a journalist from North Darfur, shared her own story of hardship. The war’s impact on healthcare availability, with hospitals shutting down, exacerbated her pre-existing illness.
“My health deteriorated significantly,” Awad described. “Confined to bed for over four months, I eventually reached a point where hospitalization was necessary. I travelled to Madani city in Al-Jazirah state, only to face another siege imposed by the RSF on the hospital where I was admitted.”
“Paralyzed by lupus, an autoimmune disease, I was forced to flee the city yet again, seeking treatment in Kassala State. All this while battling my illness and the harsh realities of displacement,” she added.
Awad’s story reflects the heightened suffering experienced by female journalists in North Darfur, who have been subjected to a disproportionate amount of harassment and violations, often leading to exile in neighbouring countries.
Sudan sits near the bottom of Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom rankings, placing 149th overall. The security situation for journalists is even worse, with a ranking of 162nd. Economic factors further restrict media freedom in Sudan, with a ranking of 152nd.