Sudan authorities arrest BBC journalists covering protests

February 7, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese security authorities arrested two BBC journalists covering anti-coup demonstrations in Khartoum before releasing them late on Monday.

The BBC team was on its way to an assembly point in the Bashadar area in southern Khartoum, but a security force in civilian clothes riding a vehicle without license plates intercepted them next to Farouk’s cemetery before seizing their cameras and taking them to an unknown destination.

The team consists of producer Mohamed Ibrahim, reporter Firas Kilani and photographer Mark Ponsky.

The Sudanese authorities used to target journalists regularly to dissuade them from covering the violent repression of protesters.

The media documented security forces firing bullets on protesters and other attacks that triggered international condemnation of the bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters.

UN independent human rights expert Adama Dieng expressed his deep concern about the arrest of BBC journalists in Khartoum.

“Journalists must be able to do their work freely without harassment and intimidation. Freedom of expression must be respected,” he said in a tweet posted after their arrest.

Also, the Preparatory Committee for the Restoration of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the arrest of the BBC team and called for their release.

Head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan pledged to prevent attacks on journalists and hold accountable the security agents that arrest or attack them.

(ST)