Escalating Violations Against Journalists and Shifting Patterns of Targeting in Sudan

Moatinoon – Al-Asma’i Bashari
Amid the ongoing war in Sudan, journalists—both men and women—are facing unprecedented and deteriorating conditions, with escalating violations directly targeting their work and increasing risks associated with practicing journalism in an environment marked by insecurity and overlapping authorities.

A recent report monitoring media freedoms during the first four months of 2026, issued by the Freedoms Secretariat of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, documented 25 cases of violations against journalists. These included arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, direct threats, physical assaults, as well as digital violations such as hacking, blackmail, and the leaking of personal data.

The report indicates that arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance were the most prominent forms of violations during the period, with 11 cases recorded, including both individual and mass arrests, as well as instances of re-arrest after release. This reflects a growing pattern of targeting journalists due to their work or published opinions.

Violations were not limited into Sudan. Five cross-border cases were documented, involving arrests, forced deportations, and assaults in neighboring countries, highlighting the expansion of risks affecting journalists even outside Sudan.

The report also recorded a notable increase in direct threats and hate speech. Several journalists were subjected to digital blackmail and constant surveillance, with some violations extending to targeting members of their families in attempts to pressure or silence them.

Observers note a significant shift in the nature of violations—from reliance on direct physical violence to more complex methods, including legal procedures, administrative restrictions, and digital tools. This shift makes it more difficult to track abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.

Since the outbreak of the war, the total number of documented violations against journalists in Sudan has reached 618 cases, underscoring the scale of challenges facing press freedom in the country.

Experts warn that the continuation of these conditions could create a stifling media environment, forcing many journalists to stop working or leave the country, thereby negatively impacting the flow of information and the public’s right to access news.

Meanwhile, calls are growing for stronger protection for journalists, enhanced accountability mechanisms, and the provision of a safe environment that enables them to carry out their professional duties without fear or intimidation—at a time when the need for independent and credible media is more urgent than ever amid ongoing crises.