KEY POINTS
-
Sudanese war destroyed print and broadcast media infrastructure.
-
Hundreds of journalists lost jobs, with 31 killed in conflict.
-
Press freedom is threatened as warring parties control outlets.
When Shamael Elnoor left Sudan after the outbreak of war in 2023, the country’s newspapers were already struggling under a deepening economic crisis and a global shift to digital news. The fighting quickly brought printing presses to a halt, leaving once-bustling newsrooms in Khartoum empty, looted, and gathering dust.
“Since the first bullet was fired, all newspapers stopped,” Elnoor said, walking through a warehouse where old pre-war editions lay scattered around an idle printing press. A prominent freelance journalist known for her coverage of Sudanese politics and the Darfur region, Elnoor returned to the capital this year after the army regained control, determined to assess the state of the nation’s press.
Sudanese media struggles to recover after war
Elnoor said the conflict destroyed newspapers’ ability to perform their core role. Civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has crushed Sudan’s economy, forced roughly half of the population of 50 million into hunger, and claimed tens of thousands of lives. Independent newspapers, television channels, and websites had begun emerging following decades of state control under autocrat Omar al-Bashir, but many were already closing or reducing operations due to economic difficulties before the war.
Ad revenues vanished as businesses collapsed, further undermining the media sector. According to the Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate, 27 newspapers ceased operations, along with 32 radio stations and eight television stations. About 1,000 journalists lost their jobs, many fleeing Sudan for safety, while 31 journalists were killed during the conflict, Secretary General Mohamed Abdelaziz told Reuters.
Journalists face threats and restricted reporting
Digital outlets have proliferated, yet most are backed by warring factions or political interests, contributing to a parallel disinformation battle on social media. According to Reuters, Elnoor fled her home in Omdurman shortly after the war began, moving first to Sennar and eventually the United Arab Emirates. She returned this year after Khartoum’s recapture, finding her home destroyed and newsrooms deserted.
With fewer reporters, strict permits, and the threat of violence from fighters, Elnoor says Sudan’s press is hanging by a thread. “Without a doubt, we are entering an unprecedented era for press freedom, but it hasn’t yet been tested because journalistic activity itself has declined,” she said.
