The North Darfur capital of El Fasher is under a total communications and internet blackout, which severely limits access to reliable information about the humanitarian situation and the number of missing persons. This shutdown has facilitated the spread of misinformation and the suppression of facts. The Freedom Secretariat of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate has warned that attempts to silence the press and target journalists will prevent the world from following events in Darfur.
Before the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of the city, about 20 media professionals were operating in El Fasher. Contact has now been lost with seven journalists, whose fate remains unknown. Twelve journalists managed to escape to the Tawila area, while five were arrested by the RSF, including journalist Muammar Ibrahim and photojournalist Ibrahim Jibril Abkar, who appeared in widely circulated videos. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate described these incidents as blatant violations of journalists’ rights under international humanitarian law and press‑freedom conventions.
Fleeing journalists recounted an arduous journey, walking for miles amid hunger, fear and destitution, with no transportation, closed roads and no guarantees of protection. The survivors suffered severe exhaustion from thirst, hunger and lack of sleep, and several saw their health deteriorate due to the absence of healthcare in the areas they reached. The syndicate has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists, disclosure of the fate of the missing, guarantees for their safety and the provision of a safe environment for media workers in conflict zones. It has also called on international organisations to intervene urgently to protect journalists and hold accountable those who spread disinformation.
These events in El Fasher are part of a broader pattern of violations against the press since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023. Sudan continues to rank low in the annual Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, placed 149th out of 180 countries surveyed in 2024. The war has claimed the lives of at least 32 journalists since 2023 and has seen renewed reports of violations, including the rape of women journalists and systematic distortion campaigns. Restrictions on internet and mobile‑phone access, especially in marginalized areas, have further deepened the crisis. The Sudanese people urgently need accurate information to protect themselves and their families, yet they are left in the dark by the lack of reliable reporting. This situation underscores the importance of a free and unrestricted media for accessing information, as affirmed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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