On August 13, police arrested journalist Gurashi Awad along a roadside in the Sudanese city of Berber, roughly 230 miles north of the capital, Khartoum. Loyal to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), intelligence officers charged him with disseminating false information. His arrest followed a Facebook video posted earlier that day, criticizing an Islamist faction aligned with the SAF for opposing civilian governance.
“It seems the recent video is the reason I was arrested,” Awad explained. He was released on bail after two days of detention. “A lot of people in Sudan are upset. They believe this is the reason, too.”
Awad’s detention reflects a broader suppression campaign targeting journalists, stifling free expression and on-the-ground reporting about Sudan’s escalating civil war. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has generated the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Over 15 million people have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands have died.
A recent U.N. report underscores the vital role of independent journalism during times of conflict and humanitarian disaster. “Journalism plays a profound role in the response to crises and humanitarian disasters. It provides lifesaving information to communities affected by crises, and it can improve the way officials prepare and respond,” the report emphasizes.
Nevertheless, in 2024 alone, the SAF has prosecuted 48 journalists on charges of spreading misinformation or violating privacy. Meanwhile, its rival—the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—continues to detain at least nine reporters, per the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, an independent media trade union.
Sudanese Armed Forces soldiers parade in Omdurman, Sudan, on December 31, 2025, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
The roots of the current conflict trace back to 2021, when the SAF and RSF orchestrated a coup that removed a civilian-led transitional government following three decades of military rule under Omar al-Bashir. Despite their collaboration then, the two forces turned against each other two years later, plunging Sudan into chaos.
The war has compelled many journalists to abandon their work or leave the country entirely, allowing state-backed narratives to dominate public discourse. Local observers note that both sides suppress independent reporting to conceal potential war crimes and control public perception.
“Neither wants a third narrative to emerge. That’s why they are cracking down on journalists,” Awad remarked.
Propaganda and Retaliation
As both factions vie for global legitimacy and external support, they engage in a fierce battle over storytelling. A recent analysis by the French Institute of International Relations reveals that the SAF positions itself as defending constitutional order against what it labels an insurgency. Conversely, the RSF frames its actions as protecting the population from remnants of the old regime—an alliance it once shared.
The Journalists Syndicate reports that reporters operating in SAF-controlled zones are often required to work alongside government minders, limiting access to impartial sources. The SAF frequently accuses civilians of colluding with the RSF based on dubious evidence and has launched violent reprisals against communities suspected of dissent.
Rapid Support Forces fighters brandish weapons near Khartoum on August 19, 2026. Their conflict with the SAF has triggered the globe’s gravest humanitarian emergency, according to the U.N.
“Generally speaking, whoever restricts journalists [from working freely] tends to have something to hide,” said a syndicate member who asked not to be named out of concern for personal safety.
The RSF currently holds several journalists captive, including three female reporters detained in South Darfur in February. During its takeover of El Fasher—the capital of North Darfur—last year, the RSF arrested multiple journalists covering the siege. Among them was Muammar Ibrahim, a correspondent for Al Jazeera’s Arabic service.
“The siege of El Fasher became a really big story and led to everyone in Sudan sympathizing with civilians there. This is why the RSF punished journalists when it captured the city,” explained Noon al-Baramkee, a North Darfur-based reporter and close associate of Ibrahim.
Neither the RSF nor the SAF responded to requests for comment from The Christian Science Monitor. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists called for the immediate release of detained Sudanese reporters.
Exile and Defiance
Hundreds of Sudanese journalists remain in exile, some continuing coverage from neighboring countries. Yet harassment follows them beyond borders. Eiad Hashem, reporting from Nairobi, Kenya, co-authored a piece attributing a statement to SAF Commander-in-Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, suggesting openness to dialogue with the United Arab Emirates—a major RSF ally.
Following publication, Gen. al-Burhan’s office denied making such remarks, contradicting official SAF policy favoring military resolution. Pro-SAF online platforms swiftly targeted Hashem with disinformation campaigns, accusing him of fabricating news. One post even revealed a location he had recently visited, implying surveillance.
“I wasn’t sure if I was being tracked or if it was a coincidence, but I wasn’t intimidated,” Hashem stated. “I thought that the best way to defend myself was to continue my reporting. You know, that’s a football tactic.”
Awad insists that despite mounting pressure, many journalists uphold ethical standards in their reporting. He refuses to flee Sudan and intends to challenge his charges in court, though authorities have yet to announce a trial date.
“Many of us still refuse to submit to the narrative of SAF or the RSF. That’s why more of us are getting arrested,” he concluded.
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