Sudanese Journalists: The Reality of War and Limited Resources
News Report - Moatinoon
There is a famous saying that the first victim of any war is the truth, as well as those who practice the profession of uncovering the truth, said Taher Al-Moatasem, Secretary of Foreign Relations at the Sudanese Journalists Union, in his conversation with Citizens about the conditions of journalists since April 15th. When Sudanese found themselves caught in the midst of the fires of war that erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, journalists and reporters in Sudan woke up to a deluge of information and news, as they began to find their way to gather the information that would dominate their reports and news articles about events of this magnitude and speed.
The suffering of those working in the field of journalism, and the media in general, did not begin with the first bullet fired in the ongoing senseless war that now rages in several parts of Sudan. Rather, it has been an inherent suffering in their journalistic journey, starting from the difficulties of obtaining information, and not ending with the poor working environment in terms of working conditions or wages, in addition to the pursuit and arrests by various authorities. This has pushed many to abandon this profession in the face of the economic downturn that has been deteriorating for years.
The ongoing war has become the pinnacle of crisis for those working in the field of journalism. It is a war that is not governed by ethical controls or considerations for the dense civilian population. It halted all aspects of life. The armies and the fires of their weapons swept through everything. Daily newspapers came to a halt, with their numbers declining in recent years to reach about 14 newspapers out of a total of 40 newspapers, ranging from political to sports and social. The airwaves of FM radio stations, which used to fill the urban spaces, fell silent.
The war did not stop at depriving journalists of their regular work, after newspapers closed their doors and various radio stations and satellite channels went silent. It became one of the decisive battlefields between the army and the Rapid Support Forces at the headquarters of the National Broadcasting Corporation.
Data from the Sudanese Journalists Union since the outbreak of the war indicate a systematic targeting of journalists and media personnel by the conflicting parties, exposing them and their institutions to violations at various levels. This has been considered a violation of freedoms, a blatant infringement on press freedom, and a clear breach of international and regional laws and conventions that protect the media.
The conflicting parties targeted several journalists in Khartoum, Nyala, El-Geneina, and other cities in Sudan, including the Rapid Support Forces and the Military Intelligence. Some of them were arrested for days, with their work tools seized and their professional duties disrupted. Journalist Imtinan Al-Radi told Citizens that journalists, both male and female, are being clearly targeted. She mentioned that many of them have been subjected to beatings, assaults, confiscation of their belongings, threats, and arrests while covering events. Al-Radi added that the conflicting parties have no regard for freedoms or democracy and they are targeting media institutions, as seen in the attack on the building of a political movement. She further stated that several journalists have been unable to leave the capital, Khartoum, and have been living under shelling and gunfire, in a dire situation and facing severe suffering. They are now experiencing extremely difficult economic conditions after losing their jobs and resources, along with the poor services in the neighborhoods they reside in due to the repercussions of the war.
The Sudanese Journalists Union has been monitoring the difficult conditions faced by its members in various states of Darfur. In one of its bi-monthly reports issued since the outbreak of the war, the union stated that journalists, both male and female, in western Sudan are living in extremely poor conditions, especially in the city of El-Geneina in West Darfur, Zalingei in Central Darfur, and Kutum in North Darfur, where battles intensify and violations against civilians continue. The report revealed the unknown fate faced by journalists in the field, despite continuous efforts to monitor violations, as communication with them is difficult due to the disruption of communication networks and the internet, while they face daily dangers in search of the truth amidst the fighting.
Journalist Adam Mahdi said that the challenges and problems faced by journalists in different cities of Sudan are almost identical. They are affected by the impact of bombings and gunfire in Khartoum, Darfur, and Al-Obied. Mahdi revealed to Citizens that several journalist colleagues have left the Darfur region and migrated to other countries such as Uganda, Chad, and South Sudan. Some have even returned to their safer villages within the region to protect their lives. This is because their presence in the cities of the region is futile due to the power outages, communication disruptions, and lack of journalistic resources. Mahdi mentioned that journalists there face great difficulties in accessing information, complain about the lack of cooperation from different authorities, and face threats to their work. Moreover, they are affected by the economic situation due to prolonged internet shutdowns, bank closures, ATM unavailability, non-payment of salaries, and the inability to receive aid.
In her testimony as a survivor of the fighting in El-Geneina, West Darfur, journalist Inam Al-Nur wrote on her Facebook page about the tragic conditions she experienced during her four-day captivity after being abducted by an armed group. She said, At the moment of the abduction, the kidnappers violently pushed me into a four-wheel drive vehicle and hit me on the head, causing me to lose consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I found myself alone in an abandoned place, locked in a room from the outside.
In the evening, eight masked individuals arrived with their personal laptops and cameras, which they had looted from our house after destroying and setting it on fire in the Tadamun neighborhood. They asked me about reports on war violations that I was working on, and when they didnt find what they were looking for on the computers or cameras, they smashed them. Afterwards, they violently beat me and locked the room again before leaving.
In January of this year, the Journalists Union held a workshop on the issue of wages, in which studies indicated that there are approximately 250 journalists who are unemployed, a significant number of individuals who have left their jobs. Therefore, the union has raised the alarm early on regarding the issue of wages and the loss of employment for journalists.
Taher Al-Mutasim, the Secretary of External Relations at the Union, told Citizens that a large number of journalists have lost their jobs after April 15 as a result of the closure of print newspapers, the suspension of radio stations, and some websites. He said that the union has been seeking ways to communicate with the relevant authorities in an attempt to address the situation of journalists. He revealed that they have been in contact with the organization Reporters Without Borders to support journalists who have lost their resources and jobs. He added, Discussions with them are ongoing to support and assist journalists.
Al-Mutasim revealed the difficult conditions experienced by journalists who have been displaced to other cities due to the ongoing conflict in Khartoum. He confirmed that the outbreak of the conflict has hindered journalists from fulfilling their professional duty as the fourth authority in exposing the truth and debunking rumors. He stated that the union maintains communication with colleagues in several cities in the states, and they are trying to fulfill their duties towards colleagues in Darfur, where the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. As for journalists who have left for abroad, the union is monitoring their situations, especially in Egypt.
The Secretary of External Relations at the union mentioned that international media organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation of Journalists, and all media institutions worldwide and in the region can play an important role in supporting and assisting journalists in Sudan during this senseless war.
