Sudanese syndicate reports losing contact with seven journalists in El Fasher
November 5, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) revealed on Wednesday that it has lost contact with at least seven journalists following the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) takeover of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
On October 26, the RSF seized control of El Fasher after fierce battles against the army and its allies that lasted for more than a year. Shortly after announcing its full control of the area, its forces faced accusations of widespread violations against civilians and forcing thousands to be displaced to the town of Tawila and other regions.
A preliminary report issued by the syndicate on the situation of journalists in the North Darfur capital stated that “contact has been completely lost with about seven journalists, including two women, and their situation remains unknown.”
It clarified that about 20 journalists were inside El Fasher and the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons just before the recent clashes erupted. Twelve journalists successfully escaped and reached the town of Tawila safely.
It reported that five journalists remain in detention and enforced disappearance by the RSF. Among them is journalist Moamar Ibrahim, who was arrested after the forces took control of the city, while the other four were arrested in previous periods.
The RSF apprehended journalist Moamar Ibrahim, who works as a contributing correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher (Al Jazeera Live), as he tried to leave the city. The forces later announced his “deportation” to Nyala for investigation on charges of defamation and impartiality in his coverage of events in El Fasher.
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate called for ensuring the safety of journalists and the immediate release of detainees, stressing that targeting journalists is a flagrant violation of press freedom and human rights.
According to testimonies from the surviving journalists, most of them suffered from severe exhaustion, hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep. The health condition of several of them has deteriorated due to the lack of medical care in the areas they reached, especially in the Tawila locality.
The syndicate emphasized that the complete cutoff of communications and internet networks in El Fasher, alongside the forces’ confiscation of phones and communication tools, makes it difficult to obtain accurate information about the humanitarian situation or the number of dead, injured, and detainees.