In a recent appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Sudanese authorities to immediately release journalists Nasr Yaqoub and Mohamed Ahmed Nazar, who have been detained in North Darfur. The arrests, carried out on July 7, 2025, by the Sudan Liberation Movement–Transitional Council (SLM–TC), highlight significant concerns regarding press freedom in the embattled region.
According to reports, the detentions were linked to an incident prior to their arrest when Yaqoub’s internet shop was allegedly fired upon by an SLM–TC officer. Dispute had arisen over Yaqoub’s refusal to surrender a Starlink device amid accusations of using contentious language.
Nazar’s imprisonment was attributed to a social media post that authorities deemed contentious, bringing into focus ongoing pressures faced by media personnel in regions of civil unrest.
Within the framework of international law, such actions collide markedly with protections under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), where Article 19 upholds journalists’ rights to free expression. Moreover, arbitrary detentions like those witnessed contravene Article 9 protections enshrining liberty.
The CPJ underscores the pivotal role of journalists within Sudan, stressing the reliance on technological means like Starlink devices to maintain communications amid a devastated infrastructure. The organization’s report highlights the peril confronted by media personnel amid conflicts, with 14 journalists and media staff losing their lives since 2023 in Sudan.
Compounded by a backdrop of broader human rights violations and persistent strife, the call for justice and accountability remains pivotal in averting unwarranted human rights erosion. Notably, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, recently expressed grave concerns over the ramifications for civilians within these unfolding crises.
Further information can be found in the original report.