Six months after the long-standing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into significant violence, thousands have been killed and millions of Sudanese have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries such as Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan, including dozens of journalists.
Most Sudanese media outlets have stopped broadcasting altogether due to ongoing fighting, frequent electricity cuts and damage to the communication infrastructure. At the same time, journalists play a critical role in ensuring that the Sudanese population has access to lifesaving humanitarian information and that the world is informed about the situation inside the country.
To better understand the situation of Sudanese journalists and design longer-term support mechanisms, 91麻豆国产精品自拍 supported the NGO Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT) to carry out a needs-assessment, which provides comprehensive and actionable insights to support media in the country. Two hundred thirteen journalists, out of a journalistic community estimated to number between , responded to the survey. 60% of them are men, 38% women journalists.
The results of our survey depict a sector faced with an existential crisis. We hope that this study sheds light on the bravery and needs of the Sudanese journalists. MiCT and UNESCO are working together to provide emergency assistance to media workers affected by the war, but international cooperation is needed to allow them to continue their profession as safely as possible.
Ninety of the survey respondents reported experiencing psychological threats. More than half experienced physical (53%) and digital (51%) threats. The nature of threats varied by gender: while experiences of psychological threats were similar, men reported higher rates of physical (57%) and online threats (60%), compared to women, 45% of whom faced physical threats and 43% experiencing online violence.
Of the threatened respondents, 80% reported coping mechanisms such as relocation, avoidance, seeking shelter, negotiating with those threatening them, and securing communication tools. Eighty percent (80%) of respondents facing threats wish to relocate, with the figure rising to 90% among those facing physical threats.
Revealing oneself as a journalist is perilous.
The war has also led to the closure of many media outlets, leading to financial pressures for journalists and their families. Forty-three percent of respondents now work in unpaid positions and among the 23% that still receive a regular income, many earn below 100 USD monthly. Over a quarter have ceased work altogether.
Concerns over press freedom and censorship are also acute. 81% of 205 respondents have faced some form of reporting restrictions since the start of the current crisis back in April. Twenty-six percent (26%) practice self-censorship, and 20% report experiencing direct censorship, while 30% were forced to modify, delete, or publish specific content.
We have difficulty obtaining food, let alone work.
Clear needs for further support emerge from these findings, with 94% of respondents specifying their requirements for immediate assistance. Financial assistance was the primary need (33%), followed by safe living and working environments (28%), consistent across genders. Over 70% of respondents identified a demand for psychosocial services, with a marked difference between women (77%) and men (63%). A prevalent need throughout the survey respondents was the requirement for equipment to continue their work (85%) as well as more than half indicating a need for capacity-building on investigative journalism, countering disinformation and trauma-sensitive reporting.
While this report highlights the immediate challenges faced by Sudanese journalists, it鈥檚 essential to stress the importance of a free and protected press when nearly all media outlets in the country have been shut down, and misinformation is rampant. At MiCT, we remain committed to supporting a media landscape that can endure and persevere. Together with our partners, the Fellowship for Critical Voices, has already provided shelter, relocation, (mental) health care, legal aid, and financial support to over 60 Sudanese journalists.
Seventy-eight percent (78%) are considering relocation to safer areas, with the overwhelming majority of these respondents (86%), saying they would prefer moving abroad. Among those aiming for international relocation, 53% lean towards Arabic-speaking countries, while 46% favour moving to non-Arabic speaking destinations.
Clear recommendations derive from these data-driven insights, specifically:
- Physical Safety: Prioritise safety training and security equipment for journalists.
- Psychological well-being: Offer targeted psychosocial services (in-person and online), focusing specifically on women journalists.
- Digital safety: Provide training on cybersecurity best practices and equip journalists with advanced software tools to protect against digital threats and breaches.
- Financial assistance: Provide immediate relief funds for those in dire need, ensuring equitable allocation based on transparent criteria and the severity of economic hardship.
- Safe spaces: Establish secure environments for journalists to live and work, including in neighbouring countries, ensuring their safety and well-being.
- Relocation assistance: Provide journalists with relocation support, documentation, and language training.
- Training: Host workshops (currently not feasible in Sudan due to the war; low-bandwidth online courses are recommended) to impart safety and key journalism skills, and combat mis/disinformation.
- Equipment: Supply essential tech tools (such as computers, cameras, and recorders) to enable journalists to sustain their reporting and create platforms where they can collaborate, share resources, and offer peer support.
- Protection & legal assistance: Offer structural support to journalist support institutions to facilitate tracking impunity cases and enhance protection infrastructure.
The full report is available in English, with key findings in .
The assessment was conducted with support from UNESCO鈥檚 International Programme for the Development of Communication and the Crisis Response Mechanism of the Global Media Defence Fund.
