Sudan newspapers hit by major security crackdown
February 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities have confiscated a total of 19 newspaper issues in the past three days in what Reporters Without Borders (RWB) has described as a “disturbing wave of censorship”.
In a wave of raids carried out in the capital on 16 February, members of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) seized a total of 13 issues as they came off the presses, including almost all of Khartoum’s dailies and two magazines.
The publications affected were Al-Tayar, Al-Rai al-Aam, Al-Intibaha, Akhir Lahza, Al-Ahram al-Youm, Awal al-Nahar, Al-Watan, Al-Sudani, Alwan, Al-Saiha and Al-Mijhar al-Siyasi, and the two magazines, Al-Dar and Hikayat.
Five other newspaper issues were also seized on Wednesday, including Al-Sudani, Al-Intibaha, Al Sahafa, Al Mighur and Al Taghier.
“These massive and indiscriminate seizures constitute an unacceptable act of censorship,” said Cléa Kahn-Sriber, the head of RWB’s Africa desk.
RWB said the seizures not only constitute a grave violation of press freedoms, but have also resulted in major financial losses to affected publications already fighting for economic survival.
“These repeated seizures represent a significant loss of income for newspaper owners,” Kahn-Sriber added. “The government is clearly aware of this and uses it as part of its strategy for throttling independent print media.”
She said the publications in question were unaware of what triggered the recent spate of confiscations, although the crackdown is likely related to general elections scheduled for April.
RWB says it expects further seizures to be carried out in the weeks and months ahead as the government seeks to suppress any reporting that could potentially give rise to a debate.
The NISS has consistently carried out such raids, with an estimated 35 newspaper issues seized in 2014.
RWB said NISS operatives typically wait until issues have been printed before seizing all copies to prevent their sale, leaving owners with no legal recourse.
In a related matter, well-known journalist Madeeha Abdallah is facing trial on criminal charges of complicity, undermining constitutional order and publishing false information.
Journalists in Sudan are routinely subject to harassment, as well as arbitrary arrest, detention and interrogation, often without any explanation being given.
Sudan’s 2010 national security law grants the NISS complete immunity.
Sudan ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
(ST)