In a notable move, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Sudan ordered a temporary stoppage of the broadcasts of three Arab news channels on Tuesday. The impacted channels include two owned by Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, along with the UAE-owned Sky News Arabia. The ministry attributed the decision to the channels’ inability to maintain proper transparency and professionalism in their reporting. Further, it was noted that the channels failed to renew their necessary broadcast licenses. Click here for more details.
The director of Al Arabiya in Sudan, Lina Yaakoub, clarified in an interview that both Saudi channels (Al Arabiya and Al Hadath) had not officially been informed of the said suspension. She, along with her Sudan-based crew, discovered the decided action through state television. The suspended channels, she stated, represent foreign press; therefore, the authority to issue such orders rests solely with the Presidency of the Republic’s Office of Foreign Information.
However, this unexpected decision by Sudan’s Ministry of Culture and Information didn’t go unnoticed by the international community. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS), in particular, condemned the suspension of Al Arabiya, Al Hadath and Sky News Arabia, labeling it an infringement of press and expression freedom. For further information about this click here.
Moreover, the recent incidents in Sudan have induced worry among the international community because of numerous human rights abuses in addition to existing humanitarian concerns. Specifically, since the armed conflict onset in April 2023, the work condition for journalists has become even more challenging and dangerous. This conflict, primarily between the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), emerged regarding each group’s authority under a proposed political agreement. This agreement was anticipated to resolve the ongoing political turbulence, facilitating the formation of a civilian government and ushering in a democratically governed state where law, gender equality and human rights would get prime importance.