Sudan intelligence officer detains journalist under cybercrime law, syndicate says

August 14, 2026 (BERBER) – Sudanese criminal investigation police have detained journalist Gurashi Awad in River Nile State following a complaint filed by an intelligence officer under the cybercrime law, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate said on Friday.

Awad was arrested on Thursday evening and taken to a police station in the northern town of Berber after a complaint by a lieutenant colonel in the General Intelligence Service under the 2007 Cybercrime Act, the syndicate said in a statement.

He remained in custody without questioning or bail, and authorities had not scheduled an appearance before prosecutors, the group added.

Media watchdogs and rights groups have repeatedly voiced concern over the tightening of restrictions on journalism in Sudan, where authorities often use publishing and cybercrime statutes to target reporters over their work.

The syndicate condemned the arrest as an infringement of press freedom and called for the immediate repeal of the cybercrime law, which it described as restrictive of fundamental liberties.

It urged authorities to release Awad immediately or present a clear legal justification for his detention, while granting him immediate access to legal representation.

Sudan is a signatory to international and regional treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee freedom of expression and protection against arbitrary detention, the syndicate said.

The group called on international human rights bodies and press freedom organizations to monitor the case and press for Awad’s release.