Sudan Crisis: Journalists Under the Weight of War
moatinoon
The eruption of armed conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the "Rapid Support Forces" (RSF) in mid-April 2023 has deepened the suffering of Sudanese journalists, who have lost their media outlets and jobs.
As a direct consequence of the war, a large number of journalists have been forced to flee outside the states of Khartoum and Al Jazirah, or seek refuge across borders under extremely harsh and complicated humanitarian conditions, with some remaining stranded in border areas due to visa complications.
Sudanese journalists working for print newspapers have lost their jobs due to the war, with newspaper offices, printing presses being vandalized, looted, and burned, and the destruction of both private and government TV and radio station buildings.
Some journalists in safer states like Northern and Nile River (north), White Nile (south), Sennar and Blue Nile (southeast), Gedaref, Kassala, and the Red Sea (east) are living under harsh conditions in displacement camps, unable to afford proper housing due to severe economic constraints.
Renowned journalists are now working as street vendors and farmers, as the war has shocked many journalists, leading them to remain at home without work or the desire to work.
Harsh and Complex Conditions
Approximately 90 percent of journalists working in Sudanese media institutions lost their jobs with the outbreak of the war and in the subsequent months, particularly after the cessation of print journalism. The few newspapers that continued to publish are now operating electronically with limited staff.
Around 26 print newspapers ceased publication in the early months of the war, while broadcasting stopped in 10 radio stations, and 7 local radio stations were closed.
In Kassala, eastern Sudan, many journalists are living in a government school under tough conditions.
Journalist (A. S. A) told "Citizens" that the war has displaced journalists, forcing them to live in schools due to their current circumstances.
He explained that many journalists are facing significant economic challenges due to the cessation of work and the loss of their income sources.
He highlighted that Sudanese journalists are currently facing very difficult and harsh conditions.
Journalist (S. W. M) mentioned that the war has displaced most journalists from their homes and deprived them of their jobs.
He told "Citizens," "We are crammed into a small room, sleeping on the ground, and suffering from mosquito bites."
He added, "The war has completely destroyed journalism, ending the long careers of many media professionals."
Previously, the city of Jeddah hosted talks sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the United States on May 11, 2023, which resulted in the first agreement between the warring parties to commit to protecting civilians.
The Jeddah platform managed to announce multiple ceasefires, which were frequently violated, leading to mutual accusations; this prompted Riyadh and Washington to suspend the negotiations in December 2023.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been engaged in a war that has resulted in approximately 15,000 deaths and more than 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
