Sudan – To celebrate the second anniversary of the outbreak of the battle between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) on April 15, 2023, the Sudan Media Forum issued this joint statement to highlight the humanitarian catastrophe facing millions of civilians. It laments the misery of Sudan’s printing and electronic media infrastructure, especially journalists, highlighting the intentional obstruction of access to food and medicines for millions trapped in conflict zones, facing efforts to provide independent reporting and efforts to provide accurate, correct, reliable news and information.
Fighting party
In its statement, the Sudan Media Forum appeals to war parties and the international community to stop the war now. It urges Sudanese journalists to work hard on the rules and values of independent, professional journalism to counter the spread of rumors and media disinformation. Be strictly committed to the thorough verification of professional standards and information prior to publication.
Citizens
The Sudan Media Forum, which deals with Sudan’s civil forces (political and social) emphasizes that “media and press freedom must occupy the fundamental space of the activities and programs of political forces and civil society organisations and demand protection as a fundamental human right, not merely an addendum to demand.
The cause of free and independent media must be adopted as a central issue regarding the future of Sudan’s democracy and must acquire the civil litigation agenda. We ask political forces, civil society organisations and emergency committees to think and plan about the postwar phase and the requirements of “peace journalism” and to cooperate in restoring our country’s democratic path, as there is no democracy without free press.
International Society
The Sudan Media Forum urges the international community to activate UN Security Council resolution 2724 (2024) of March 8, 2024, calling for an immediate halt of war, force the parties to implement it without delay, establish effective mechanisms to monitor it, put serious pressure on both parties, block rescue intrusions and aid, and allow human catastras to be stopped.
Please read the complete statement below:
Sudan Media Forum
Joint statement commemorating the second anniversary of the outbreak of war in Sudan
April 15, 2025
Today marks the second anniversary of the outbreak of battles between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) on April 15, 2023, and is a conflict that targets Sudanese civilians. The conflict leaves behind massive destruction of tens of thousands of deaths, including tens of thousands of journalists. Five of them are women. It also caused the displacement of around 12 million people, including those who previously displaced internally and refugees, but around 25 million people suffer from acute food insecurity, including 8.5 million people facing emergency or catastrophic levels that approach starvation.
After two years of war, printing newspapers have been suspended, states, independence and private radio stations have been shut down, media training and service centres have been shut down, communications and internet services have been taken offline in most parts of the country. Journalists are refuge, pursued and restricted in carrying out their professional and independent work in reporting and reflecting facts, making Sudanese citizens vulnerable to rumours, false news and toxic war propaganda promoted by war parties and their supporters.
Two years later, Sudan had experienced a near-identical media blackout, where the flames of truth disappeared, but the sky instead ignited with misinformation, racism and hate speech. And it is a globally forgotten open war, its biggest casualty is independent journalism, accurate, correct, reliable news and information.
Two years have passed, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide against civilians continue, and accountability and justice are completely lacking. This adds to the intentional obstruction of access to food and medicine for millions of Sudan trapped in conflict zones.
Two years later, the war with foreign-supported Sudanese civilians led the country to the brink of deeper social division in unprecedented ways, creating a sealed political horizon, making peace seem far apart.
As the war concludes its second year today, the Sudan Media Forum will address urgent demands on everything Sudan, the regional and international, closing with an urgent appeal.
Stop the war now and save Sudan from hunger… there’s no time to waste!
First: To the party to fight:
1. Officially acknowledged an immediate and unconditional ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, and a serious shortage of national food and medicine, as well as a call on nations around the world to provide urgent humanitarian assistance.
2. Immediate and unlimited permission for international and local organisations and UN agencies to enter the country to deal with humanitarian catastrophes, and opening and ensuring all safe routes to deliver food and medicine to affected people.
3. Ensure the safety and freedom of journalists and all media workers, allowing all areas to be accessed freely, safely and freely, with no harassment, censorship or interference.
4. Consider equipment as a private facility that immediately ceases any form of attack on journalists and the media, and that the media headquarters and platforms (radio, television, newspapers, websites) and their equipment that enjoy full protection under international humanitarian law and the confiscation of targets, occupations or equipment by the parties.
5. Allow foreign press and international correspondents to enter and work freely, access all areas without restrictions and promote procedures.
Second: To Sudanese journalists, press and media agencies:
1. We call for strong and decisive adherence to the rules and values of independent, professional journalism, and strictly commitment to the thorough verification of professional standards and information prior to publication, particularly through social media, to combat the spread of rumors and media disinformation.
2. The lack of professional national Sudan’s journalism, like others with external agendas, allowed the vacuum to be filled with biased propaganda media and misleading reports that do not reflect reality in truth. We underscore the need for Sudanese press to resume their duties, adhere to strict professional standards, stem the flood of disinformation, and refrain from promoting news from unknown sources.
3. We are calling on professional media agencies and journalists to actively contribute to creating shared professional media discourse that counters hate speech, racism and instigation.
Third: To Sudan’s citizens (political and social):
1. Media and press freedom must occupy the fundamental space of the activities and programs of political forces and civil society organisations, and must demand protection as a fundamental human right, not merely an appendix to the demand. The cause of free and independent media must be adopted as a central issue regarding the future of Sudan’s democracy and must acquire the civil litigation agenda.
2. We are calling on political forces, civil society organisations and emergency committees to work on thinking and planning about the postwar phase and the requirements of “peace journalism” and to work together to restore our country’s democratic path, as there is no democracy without free press.
Fourth: Towards the international community:
1. Activate UN Security Council Resolution 2724 (2024) of March 8, 2024, calling for an immediate halt of war, forcing both parties to implement it without delay, and establishing an effective mechanism for monitoring it. It will put serious pressure on both parties to allow entry of unconditional relief and assistance to stop hunger and humanitarian catastrophe and to promote unlimited access to the necessary supplies to those affected.
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2. We support the Sudan Media Forum’s “Common Newsroom” as a lifeline for the Sudanese people and as a reliable window to receive accurate, accurate and independent news and information on a variety of platforms (radio, television, newspapers, websites, social media pages).
3. Provide support to independent professional websites, radio stations and television channels currently operating in Sudan’s spaces, as an alternative and reliable source of news, to notify the public, raise awareness, and enable them to provide independent and correct news more widely and widely.
4. Provide support and support for Sudanese journalists in neighbouring countries and regions to establish local professional, cultural and social centres and forums with the necessary technical needs, and help them communicate, coordinate and cooperate.
5. Given the enormous technical and financial difficulties, we will urgently cooperate with the Sudan Media Forum, press and media agencies in preparing post-conflict projects, to promote the provision of all forms of technical, technical and material support to reporters and journalists, allowing them to resume their activities and fulfill their mission professionally and efficiently.
6. During times of war, transition and peace, journalists and media experts actively contribute to the training and capacity building of journalists and media experts, strengthen their training in peace journalism, combat hate speech and racism, and all forms of discrimination.
This statement has been published on all media agencies, organizations, and the press platforms of the Sudan Media Forum.
#silencekills #lلمت_ىقDove #NOTIMETOWASTEFORSUDAN #llestlaythe_ llلسودl or_Family
