Sudanese prosecutors issue arrest warrants for dozens of journalists over corruption reports
July 23, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – The Emergency Lawyers group and the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate on Thursday condemned arrest warrants issued against dozens of journalists following reports on alleged corruption.
The prosecution specialized in cybercrimes in Red Sea state initiated legal procedures on Wednesday against 17 journalists, issuing arrest warrants before declaring them “fleeing suspects.”
The journalists affected said they received no prior notice or summons, only learning they were declared fleeing suspects given a one-week deadline to surrender.
Emergency Lawyers said the prosecution issued arrest warrants for 47 journalists and media workers, including editors-in-chief and platform managers, while 17 were formally declared fleeing suspects.
The measures were based on cybercrime laws alleging privacy violations, defamation, and publishing false news after media outlets published an investigation into allegations of corruption.
Emergency Lawyers called for an immediate halt to the prosecution, the cancellation of arrest warrants, and an independent investigation into the corruption allegations raised in the reporting.
The group urged authorities to stop using cybercrime laws to criminalize journalism and called on international rights bodies to monitor the situation.
It added that targeting journalists rather than investigating corruption undermines the press’s oversight role and seeks to intimidate media professionals into self-censorship.
The group noted that freedom of expression is guaranteed under international covenants and warned that the case reflects a growing trend of shrinking civic space in Sudan.
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate expressed deep concern over the legal actions, rejecting the designation of journalists residing outside the country as fleeing suspects.
The syndicate affirmed its respect for judicial independence and professional standards, but stressed that legal proceedings must respect constitutional guarantees for press freedom.
It emphasized that all accused journalists maintain the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, calling for press-related issues to be handled without using criminal law as a tool of intimidation.