{"id":20049322,"date":"2023-08-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20049322"},"modified":"2023-08-15T23:07:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T21:07:56","slug":"sudanese-media-decry-four-months-of-violations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudanese-media-decry-four-months-of-violations","title":{"rendered":"Sudanese media decry \u2018four months of violations\u2019<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following four months of war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with many reports of violations against journalists and media by all sides, Sudanese media institutions and press organisations, including Dabanga \u2013 Radio TV Online<\/strong>, have issued a joint plea<\/strong> to address the critical state of press freedom in Sudan, calling on Sudanese political forces and civil society to integrate media into their activities, advocate for journalist protection, and engage in post-conflict initiatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 17 signatories to the joint appeal, which was released today, also urge the international community to pressure conflicting parties to uphold international law, protect journalists, and provide technical and financial support to ensure the sustainability of a free press in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday\u2019s statement stands as a comprehensive plea to safeguard the role of journalism in crisis reporting<\/a>, hold perpetrators accountable, and work towards a future where media remains a cornerstone of a democratic Sudanese society,\u201d the signatories say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint statement Sudanese Media: Four Months of Violations<\/em><\/strong>, collaboratively produced by a number of media organisations in Sudan, represents a unified effort by independent media institutions and press organisations to address the critical state of press freedom in Sudan amidst an ongoing and devastating conflict. Spanning the period from April 15, 2023, to August 15, 2023, the statement emphasises the perilous situation faced by Sudanese journalists who have become collateral victims caught between opposing factions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘Throughout the four-month span, journalists in Sudan have encountered grave threats to their safety and freedom’<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the four-month span, journalists in Sudan have encountered grave threats to their safety and freedom. Accusations of bias, loyalty, and allegiance to warring parties have subjected them to arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, and even death, driven by the whims of the conflict’s actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female journalists are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, exacerbating the gender disparities prevalent within Sudanese society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘Media organisations have been abandoned or directly targeted, leading to a media blackout in conflict zones’<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The dire circumstances have resulted in loss of life, injuries, imprisonment, and the flight of numerous journalists to neighbouring countries. Media organisations have been abandoned or directly targeted, leading to a media blackout in conflict zones. The statement highlights the urgent need for both conflicting parties to immediately halt hostilities, grant journalists’ safe access to conflict areas, and ensure their protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint statement underscores the importance of professional journalism standards in countering misinformation, while also calling for international organisations to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists in Sudan. It appeals for global solidarity and collaboration to support the press, safeguard press freedom, and combat hate speech and racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The undersigned parties urgently call upon Sudanese political forces and civil society to integrate media into their activities, advocate for journalist protection, and engage in post-conflict initiatives. Additionally, the international community is urged to pressure conflicting parties to uphold international law, protect journalists, and provide technical and financial support to ensure the sustainability of a free press in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issued on August 15, 2023, this joint statement stands as a comprehensive plea to safeguard the role of journalism in crisis reporting, hold perpetrators accountable, and work towards a future where media remains a cornerstone of a democratic Sudanese society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio Dabanga News approached several institutions and organisations for comment, and has since received reactions from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and a leader of the Arab Socialist Baath Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Joint Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In collaboration with Dabanga \u2013 Radio TV Online<\/a>, and in partnership with the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate and Journalists for Human Rights – Jahr – Sudan, the undersigned chief editors, managing editors, and leaders of independent media institutions and Sudanese press organisations, committed to upholding freedom of the press, expression, and publication, have collectively examined the dire circumstances facing Sudanese journalists amid the ongoing catastrophic conflict since April 15, 2023, up to the present day. We hereby issue this joint statement on August 15, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After enduring four months of conflict, Sudanese journalists, akin to other civilians, find themselves caught in the crossfire of both opposing factions. Accusations of disloyalty, collusion, and allegiance to either party abound, subjecting them to threats of detention, arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, or even death. These dire consequences are determined by the whims of the warring factions in the city or state where they are situated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female journalists, in particular, are disproportionately susceptible to gender- based violence. Just as women and girls in Sudan encounter various forms of discrimination, “sexual violence,” exploitation, and sexual enslavement, female journalists are at heightened risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this period, many journalists have lost their lives, suffered injuries, and faced unjust imprisonment. Their homes, belongings, and work equipment have been pillaged, while others have been pursued and persecuted simply for expressing opinions contrary to the stance of one of the warring parties. This cumulative suffering has resulted in the flight of dozens of male and female journalists to neighbouring countries and regions, compelled some to abandon their profession, and prompted others to vanish voluntarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confronted by this dire predicament, journalists based in Khartoum and other conflict zones are hindered from navigating freely within or between battle areas for the purpose of news coverage. The absence of protective measures and the disregard of binding international conventions pertaining to press freedom and the safety of journalists during armed conflicts\u2014conventions that Sudan has ratified\u2014contribute to this challenging situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media organisations across Khartoum and many other cities have been abandoned entirely. Their locations either fall within contested zones, rendering access problematic, or have fallen victim to direct assaults, looting, vandalism, or occupation by belligerent parties. Notably, the Rapid Support Forces have occupied the premises and studios of Sudan Radio and Television Corporation, as well as the buildings of the Broadcasting Technical Regulatory Body in Omdurman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, regions to which hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have fled in search of safety\u2014such as El Gezira, the White Nile, Sennar, the Red Sea, the Nile River, the Northern states, and cities including Kassala, El Gedaref, El Obeid, and Port Sudan\u2014are facing the looming threat of becoming media dark zones. Persistent efforts to stifle journalists and prevent them from conveying the ongoing crisis and the people’s harrowing narratives have led to continuous restrictions on their movements. The security apparatus, military intelligence, the governmental Humanitarian Aid Commission, and local authorities impose insurmountable hurdles, effectively obstructing professional and independent media coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The states of Darfur, along with afflicted cities such as El Geneina, Sirba, and Morni in West Darfur, are witnessing catastrophic atrocities, tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias. These heinous acts have driven hundreds of thousands of civilians to seek refuge in neighbouring Chad, while similar atrocities have unfolded in Nyala, Kass, Manawashi, Zalingei, Garsila, Kutum, Kabkabiya, El Sereif, and Tawila in North Darfur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is a region plunged into comprehensive media darkness, with severed communication networks effectively isolating the area from press and media coverage. Journalists are left with no choice but to flee to neighbouring countries or other regions within Sudan in search of safety and protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In neighbouring Kordofan, a similar scenario unfolds, with Um Rawaba, Bara, and especially El Obeid enduring comparable atrocities. The capital city of El Obeid has been under siege for four consecutive months, subject to fierce battles between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces faction. This has resulted in hundreds of casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the states of South Kordofan, specifically Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile have become battlegrounds for the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army SPLA \u2013 North, led by Abdulaziz El Hilu, and the Sudanese army, and the Rapid Support Forces. The ongoing confrontations in Nuba Mountains have led to an unspecified number of civilian deaths and injuries. Consequently, thousands, including journalists and media professionals, have been compelled to seek refuge in neighbouring countries or internally flee to remote villages far from conflict zones or other states offering relative safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given this dire situation, we, the undersigned parties of this joint statement, urgently call upon the following entities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, addressing both sides of the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces<\/strong> we urgently appeal for the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n