Sudan: 14 Journalists Killed in 2025 as Media Violations Surge Amid Ongoing Conflict
The Sudanese Journalists Union reported that 2025 was a devastating year for the media sector, with 14 journalists killed and numerous other violations recorded due to the ongoing armed conflict between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In its 2025 annual report published Saturday, the union documented the deaths of 14 media professionals amid a sharp escalation of violations against journalists, as the conflict enters its third consecutive year. The report is based on direct reports from journalists and their families, credible eyewitness testimonies, field sources, and the rigorous monitoring and verification of published content.
Beyond the 14 fatalities, the union recorded six cases of enforced disappearance, four cases of long-term detention, and nine cases of arbitrary temporary detention. The report also detailed four instances of legal prosecution, cross-border violations targeting journalists in exile, and 19 cases of direct threats.
According to the union, El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan, emerged as one of the most dangerous zones for the press in 2025. Persistent bombardment, widespread insecurity, and near-total communications and internet blackouts severely hindered documentation efforts and limited the ability of journalists to report critical information.
The union emphasized that these documented violations represent only a small fraction of the harsh reality on the ground. It specifically highlighted the cases of three journalists who disappeared in El-Fasher prior to the massacres that followed the RSF’s takeover of the city in October 2025. To date, no information has surfaced regarding their fate or the circumstances of their disappearance.
