Support for Sudan Media Forum’s ‘Silence Kills’ campaign

Free Press Unlimited has been working in support of independent journalism for the people of Sudan since over 15 years. Our partner Dabanga still manages to report on the situation of the country in spite of the ongoing war.

Last year, all independent journalism platforms in Sudan joined efforts in the Sudan Media Forum (SMF), an initiative with the mission to strengthen citizens’ voices for an immediate ceasefire, peace and return to democracy.

On 6 November, the SMF launched the campaign, ‘Silence Kills: No Time to Waste for Sudan’, to focus global attention on the ongoing violence and human rights violations occurring in Sudan. This campaign aims to mobilise international pressure to end the conflict and hold perpetrators accountable

Leon Willems, Senior Advisor International Partnerships, said, ‘Free Press Unlimited wholeheartedly supports the forum and encourages the international community to not give up on Sudan, intervene for humanitarian access and support efforts to end the war’.

‘Independent media are the only channels of information for the international eyes since the start of the war between the army and militias. It is of crucial importance to keep the media lifeline in Sudan going.’

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan on 15 April 2023, violations against journalists have escalated to an unprecedented level. It is important that the responsible parties, both locally and internationally, take their responsibility to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and that journalists, who risk their lives to convey the truth, receive necessary protection.

Sudan is falling into a media darkness with 80% of all 18 Sudanese states deliberately cut off from the Internet, and communications networks and 90% of the media infrastructure destroyed.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, also part of the Sudan Media Forum, has recorded the impact of the war on media 18 months after it started. More than 1000 journalists lost their jobs, and were forced to flee abroad or resort to other professions. Fifty-four journalists disappeared or were arrested and 13 journalists were killed.

At the meeting in Ethiopia, the Sudan Media Forum came forward with a statement. It called on the Sudanese authorities and all warring parties to:

• Immediately cease all attacks and threats against journalists and media workers;
• Conduct prompt and impartial investigations into all killings of and violations targeting journalists;
• Ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes;
• Guarantee the safety and protection of journalists, allowing them to work freely without fear of reprisal, and
• Respect press freedom and uphold the public’s fundamental right to access information.

The coalition says, ‘Achieving justice requires collective action’.

‘We must expose the crimes committed against journalists, stand in solidarity with one another, and tirelessly advocate for an end to impunity.

‘The Sudan Media Forum remains deeply committed to the principles of ethical and professional journalism. We will continue to provide the Sudanese people with accurate, reliable, and independent information.

‘We honour the memory of the fallen journalists, pray for the swift recovery of the injured, and demand the release of those detained and forcibly disappeared.’

Read the full statement here.

This piece first appeared here.