Sudan: Authorities arrest Al Jazeera bureau chief

On November 14, the Sudanese authorities arrested the bureau chief of Al Jazeera in his home in Khartoum. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges the Sudanese authorities to release him immediately.

A man chants slogans near a flying Sudanese national flag as people protesting against the military coup in Sudan demonstrate in "Street 60" in the east of capital Khartoum on November 13, 2021. AFP

El Musalmi El Kabbashi, Sudan’s bureau chief for Al Jazeera, was arrested at night after the military forces raided his home. His arrest is likely in connection with the broadcaster's live coverage of the anti-coup protests taking place in Sudan since last month’s military coup.

In a statement, Al Jazeera condemned "in the strongest terms the reprehensible actions of the military and calls on the authorities to release El Kabbashi immediately and to allow its journalists to operate unhindered, free to practice their profession without fear or intimidation."

Crackdown on media

Sudanese authorities routinely arrest media workers and prevent agencies from doing their work in Sudan while several media outlets have been suspended.

In July 2021, Sudanese security forces had arrested Al Jazeera journalist Ali Abou Shaleh for a few hours while he was covering anti-government protests in Khartoum. In the same month, the Sudanese authorities blocked more than 30 news websites in the run up to protests demanding the resignation of the government, while in October 2021, several journalists were arrested and media offices stormed during the unfolding of a military coup in Khartoum.

The IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “Journalists in Sudan must be allowed to do their work without intimidations, threats, and arbitrary arrests. The authorities must release Musalmi El Kabbashi immediately and drop all charges against him. This is an unacceptable attack on press freedom.”

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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