Death Threats Against Darfur 24 Reporters; SJS Declares Solidarity

Moatinoon
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has expressed its solidarity with “Darfur 24” and its correspondents after they reportedly received death threats from armed groups.

According to “Darfur 24”, several of its reporters received death threats from members of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nur, in what the outlet described as a grave violation of press freedom and the right to life. The network said the threats constitute a serious crime against journalists and represent a dangerous escalation in the targeting of media professionals in Sudan.

Darfur 24 also reported that it has been subjected to a coordinated campaign of intimidation because of its news coverage. The campaign, it said, was organized and carried out by media platforms affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nur.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate held both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army – Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nur faction fully responsible for the safety of the journalists. It warned that death threats, in a country where armed factions are engaged in conflict, weapons are widespread, and hate speech is prevalent, create fertile ground for violent crimes to be committed with impunity. The syndicate stressed that journalism must not be held hostage by such lawlessness.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the syndicate said Sudanese journalists have continued to work under some of the most dangerous conditions, often reporting under bombardment and risking their lives to ensure the public has access to reliable information. It noted that it has documented the killing of 34 journalists since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April 2023, in addition to dozens of cases of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and threats.

The syndicate called on armed movements that advocate democracy and human rights to match their rhetoric with action by respecting international agreements that guarantee the protection of journalists during armed conflicts and by immediately ending all forms of intimidation and threats against media workers.

It further emphasized that the threats directed at “Darfur 24” are not merely an attack on a single media organization, but part of a broader pattern aimed at silencing independent voices and imposing an information blackout on the public.

Finally, the syndicate urged international organizations working on press freedom and human rights not to underestimate these threats, warning that they could pave the way for further crimes against Sudanese journalists. It called for an immediate investigation into the threats, full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding them, and accountability for those responsible.