According to the Sudanese human rights organisation Emergency Lawyers, another 30 journalists are reportedly facing similar charges in the same case. However, Reporters Without Borders has not had access to the relevant court documents.
This use of anti-cybercrime legislation to punish media professionals is not unprecedented. In May, the army-backed authorities arrested Rishan Oshi, a journalist and presenter for the private channel AlBalad TV, on accusations of defamation over a Facebook post on the alleged secret sale of public property between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces, the two warring parties. Although initially sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 10 million SDG(approximately 14,500 EUR), Oshi ultimately had her conviction overturned by the Supreme Court and was released on 1 July after 45 days of arbitrary detention.
Since the outbreak of the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces in April 2023, both warring parties have committed crimes against journalists, forcing a large number of them into exile. According to RSF, 13 journalists have been killed, three remain missing, and 19 have been detained, such as Mouammar Ibrahim, who is still in the hands of the Rapid Support Forces.
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