Khartoum, Sudan – This year’s World Press Freedom Day arrives as Sudan grapples with one of the bloodiest periods in the history of journalism. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate announced that 34 journalists have been killed since the outbreak of war in mid-April 2023. In an official statement, the syndicate emphasized that this anniversary coincides with a pivotal moment, where the pain of loss is compounded by the recent award of the 2026 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The syndicate considered this honor an international recognition of the sacrifices of Sudanese journalists who continue their work despite being killed, displaced, and forcibly disappeared.
The statement also noted the documentation of 680 serious violations, including the arrest of six journalists, some of whom have been subjected to enforced disappearance. The syndicate held all parties to the conflict responsible for turning the public sphere into a site of direct targeting.
The press as a prerequisite for peace and democracy
The union stressed that freedom of expression is not a “deferred democratic luxury,” but rather an existential necessity for building sustainable peace.
The statement explained that the war in Sudan has not only destroyed infrastructure, but has also targeted “truth” as a key player in exposing crimes and holding the authorities accountable. The union further warned that no dialogue or democratic transition can succeed without placing media independence at its core. This is essential to combat hate speech and prevent the manipulation of public opinion.
Urgent demands and international protection
In closing, the union called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to protect Sudanese journalists. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees and the disclosure of the fate of those forcibly disappeared.
Furthermore, it called for the establishment of an independent mechanism to investigate crimes committed against media professionals. This aims to end the culture of impunity.
The union emphasized that “the battle today is a battle for truth,” and that a peaceful future cannot be built without a free space where all voices are heard. There can be no peace without truth, and no truth without a free and independent press that safeguards the aspirations of the Sudanese people for justice.
