16th August, 2023
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate and 16 other media organisations in Sudan have called for protection for journalists and unrestricted coverage of the conflict in the country.
“We call on the warring parties to immediately stop the war, open humanitarian passages, and enable the press and journalists to convey the truth to the public in Sudan and the world,” the media organisations said in a joint statement.
In the past four months since the breakout of the conflict on April 15, journalists in Sudan “have encountered grave threats to their safety and freedom,” the statement said.
“Nearly all newspapers, radios and televisions in the country have stopped working and the absence of professional press reporting gave way to biased reporting and propaganda with foreign agenda, it added.
“The dire circumstances have resulted in loss of lives, injuries, imprisonment, and the flight of numerous journalists to neighbouring countries,” it noted.
They called for independent press coverage without restrictions or security oversight to end the misinformation and confusion, to which the Sudanese are exposed.
The media organisations urged the international community to exert pressure on Sudan’s warring parties “to uphold international humanitarian law, safeguard journalists’ freedom to carry out their work and report freely, devoid of restrictions or censorship.”
They also called on international and UN institutions to conduct “thorough investigations” into crimes perpetrated against Sudanese journalists and prosecute those responsible.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, the Sudanese Health Ministry said.
(Xinhua/NAN)