African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies has documented a number of incidents where Sudanese authorities have interfered with the exercise of media freedom and free expression in the months of May and June 2018.
On three occasions, the authorities confiscated printed copies of three Sudanese daily newspapers without providing any justification. In May, the National Intelligence and Security Services imposed a “red line” on chief editors of Sudanese publications and ordered them not to publish any news related to the death of businessman who died whilst in custody. The chief editors were also prohibited from reporting on the prevailing fuel crisis. On 22 May 2018, four Sudanese journalists were prohibited from traveling to Saudi Arabia to attend a regional conference for journalists without any justification. And on 14 June 2018, the Sudanese foreign media department revoked the license of Qatari correspondent to the Middle East Mr. Ahmed Yousif.
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) reiterates its calls to the Government of Sudan to end all censorship and harassment of media outlets, and fully guarantee press and media freedom as provided in Sudan’s Interim National Constitution of 2005, as well as international and regional human rights treaties to which Sudan is a state party.
Censorship of Sudanese daily newspapers
On 7 May 2018, the Sudan National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) confiscated all printed copies of Al Jareeada, an independent newspaper without providing any formal justification. This symbolizes a sincere discord between the governmental claims that democracy is systematic ally in place in Sudan as stated in chapter 1, article 1 of the Sudanese INC, as free press remains inhibited even for smaller private publications for the slightest mention of any anti-Government sentiment.
On 14 May 2018, the NISS confiscated printed copies of Al Baath newspaper, a publication known for its affiliation with the Al Baath political opposition party. Once again no justification was given for the confiscation and the publication.
The unwarranted confiscation of public press materials is a direct violation of the rights put forth within the Sudanese Interim National Constitution which states under article 39 (1), “Every citizen shall have an unrestricted right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to order, safety or public morals as determined by law.” It is important to note that the inclusion of vague subscriptions to “public morals” are very difficult to decipher contextually and subsequently leave room for the Government of Sudan (GoS) to exclusively dictate their meaning in accordance with political incentives that are not necessarily in the interest of the citizens.
On 10 June 2018, NISS confiscated printed copies of Al Tayar Newspaper, again without providing reasoning for doing so. A reliable source communicated to the ACJPS that part of the reason was rooted in an article published by journalist Shamile al Noor (F) on 10 June, commenting on the deteriorating economic situation within the region and the failure of the GoS to garner sincere political support from neighboring countries. This statement is further validated by the interrogation of Ms. Al Noor which took place on the same day following the confiscation. Miss Al Noor was asked to report to the NISS media department in Khartoum II for questioning, which lasted approximately 3 hours from 2pm to 5pm before being released. The next day, 11 June, Ms. Al Noor was ordered by NISS to report back to their offices in Khartoum II. Upon arrival, she was ordered to stop publicly commenting on the Bashir administration and its affiliated political and economic policies, which is a clear violation of democratic citizen rights allowing for free speech and freedom of the press as outlined in article 39(2) of the Sudanese INC which states “The State shall guarantee the freedom of the press and other media as shall be regulated by law in a democratic society.”
On 17 May 2018, NISS ordered the chief editors of Sudanese publications not to publish any content relating to the prevailing fuel crisis within the region, an issue that affects almost all Sudanese of all economic classes. They were also ordered not to publish any information relating to the death of businessman Ekasha Mohammed Ahmed. Mr. Ekasha was known to be closely affiliated with the Sudanese ruling party and was arrested in early February 2018 by NISS’ economic department following conflicts that had been occurring within the party. Mr. Ekasha was proclaimed dead by apparent suicide at the NISS detention center according to representatives of the agency. However, no investigation was opened as means of validating these claims and no further explanation into why this had taken place while he remained in NISS custody was ever released to the public.
NISS blocks four journalists from traveling to Saudi Arabia
On 22 May 2018, NISS in Khartoum blocked four Journalists from boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia at Khartoum international airport. They were traveling as invited guests to a gathering of journalists covering news and media in the Arab/Muslim regions. The gathering was scheduled for 28 May 2018, and the invited journalists were: Osman Merghani, chief editor of Al Tayar Newspaper, Ashraf Abdulaziz, chief editor of Al Jareeda newspaper, Ms. Leena Yakhoub, chief editor of Baj online newspaper and Mr. Fatih Al Rahman Shaberga Editor Director of Al Rai Al Aam newspaper.
NISS blocks a theatre performance in Port Sudan
On 28 May 2018, NISS of Port Sudan blocked an arts and drama troupe called Al Samandal from performing a show entitled Thurate Al Kalat (Workers revolution) which was scheduled to be performed at the Port Sudan House for Theater and Writers that same day.
Sudanese Foreign Media Department places ban on Qatari foreign correspondent
On 14 June 2018, the Sudanese foreign media department revoked the license of Qatari correspondent to the Middle East Mr. Ahmed Yousif, disabling him from journalistic correspondence within the region. He was ordered to return his work identification document, and was banned by the department from writing for any other Sudanese publication. The foreign media department in Sudan works to essentially mandate and oversee foreign correspondence within the region. However, this particular incident took place after Mr. Yousif was subjected to interrogation by NISS officials on 13 and 14 June 2018.
Background
The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) have continuously employed a number of tactics intended to censor information deemed to be critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) published in print and online media. Tactics utilized by the NISS include summoning journalists, preventing the distribution of printed copies of newspapers without rationale; imposing “red lines” on media through telephone communication to editors-in-chief; and blacklisting journalists from publishing their work in newspapers.
Post-print censorship is routinely used by the NISS to intimidate editors from publishing on what are often referred to as ‘red line’ issues, which are issues that the authorities deem sensitive and seek to control in public debate. It is also thought to have the intended impact of causing editors to self-censor to avoid financial losses. Though the issues deemed ‘red line’ are often blurry and unclear, current themes subjected to censorship include any coverage of crackdown on popular protests, worsening economic situation, corruption, human rights violations, reporting on the conflicts in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, the relationship between Sudan and other Gulf states and internal rift within the ruling party.
ACJPS has continued to document the continued suppression of the right to freedom of expression in Sudan with the most recent period of censorship occurring during the 2018 anti-austerity protests in January and February. ACJPS also noted a number of incidents of post print censorship that took place at the end of 2017 in the months of November and December.
In our report, The Reality is Very Dark: The Right to Freedom of Expression in Sudan, we examine two periods that experienced heavy levels of censorship i.e. January – August 2014 amidst President Bashir’s announcement of the National Dialogue Process; and January – April 2015 that saw the lead up to the national general elections. Both periods also saw the censorship of traditionally pro-government newspapers, indicative of a growing internal rift within the NCP.
Contact:
Mossaad Mohamed Ali (English, Arabic Swedish): +256 779584542 or mossaad.ali@acjps.org ; Cynthia Ibale, (English): cynthia@acjps.org
