Ban is lifted on Sudanese newspaper, will reappear next month

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Jan 25, 2004 (AP) — The government has lifted a ban on Sudan’s oldest independent newspaper, and Al-Ayam will reappear next month, a government press body said Sunday.

The government, which suspended Al-Ayam’s license in November, gave the paper the green light after a group of Sudanese intellectuals and media figures pleaded on its behalf, the Sudan Media Center said in a statement.

Last month, the U.S. Embassy criticized the suspension of Al-Ayam and Khartoum Monitor, another independent paper that was banned in November.

While Al-Ayam’s editors say they were never told the reason for the ban, the newspaper is known to have annoyed the government by publishing articles on Sudanese rebels and militia. The government accused Al-Ayam of publishing stories that threatened national security.

Last week, dozens of journalists and workers at Al-Ayam appealed to the government to reverse the ban and compensate them for lost wages.

Al-Ayam, which means days in Arabic, is expected to hit the streets after next week’s three-day Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha.

The English-language Khartoum Monitor has not asked anybody to mediate with the government and remains suspended.

Sudan has a history of banning newspapers and detaining journalists.

In August, President Omar el-Bashir said the censorship of newspapers would be lifted, but restrictions have remained in place.