Sudan: Free detained African journalists' leader!

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African regional organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), joins in solidarity with its Sudanese affiliate, the Sudan Journalists Union (SJU), to condemn in the strongest possible terms the arrest of Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed (Sadiq Rizaigi), President of SJU and FAJ President.

Credit: IFJ

UPDATE: Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed was released on Monday 19 July, 2019.

FAJ has been informed by the Sudan Journalists Union (SJU), that Sadiq Rizaigi was arrested on Wednesday, 24 July 2019, and is still being detained incommunicado by Military Intelligence services for unrevealed reasons.

The Steering Committee of FAJ is convinced that Sadiq Rizaigi is detained illegally due to his legitimate action of advocating for journalists’ rights, carrying out his appropriate trade union activities and peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. His principled fight for journalists made him increasingly an enemy of oppressive forces within the political quagmire of Sudan today.

 The African federation regards this arrest as the final nail in the terminal decline of media freedom in Sudan, and holds the transitional military authorities responsible for anything that happens to the life and well-being of Sadiq Rizaigi.

 FAJ is particularly appalled by the barbaric behaviour of the Sudanese military authorities who, since coming to power, have been waging war against journalists, harassing, detaining and arresting them, for the sole crime of freely exercising their professional duties.

 TMC must immediately and unconditionally release Sadiq Rizaigi, and guarantee his safety. FAJ and IFJ along with their affiliates all over the world will work tirelessly to secure the safety and freedom of Rizaigi who is also the President of Eastern Africa Journalists Association.

 FAJ also reaffirms its unequivocal support for the demands of SJU and calls upon global labour organisations and media freedom groups to stand by Sadiq and other fellow journalists and activists in Sudan so they can advance and sustain the decisive struggle for freedom of expression in Sudan.

For more Information, please contact the IFJ - Africa Office

1st Floor, Maison de la Presse, 5 Rue X Corniche, Medina,

BP 64257, Dakar, Senegal

Tel: +221- 33 867 95 86/87; Fax: +221- 33 827 02