Sudanese Journalists' Syndicate: Council Extension Sparks Resignations

• The Sudanese Journalists' Syndicate extended its council's term for three months on September 14, 2026, due to the ongoing war preventing a General Assembly.
• This decision was justified by Article 28/6 of the syndicate's bylaws, which allows for extensions under force majeure conditions.
• Three council members resigned in protest against the extension, indicating internal disagreement.
• The syndicate cited security concerns, logistical difficulties, and the dispersion of journalists as reasons for the inability to hold a safe and in-person General Assembly.
• The extension is presented as a temporary measure to prevent an institutional vacuum and facilitate future elections for a new leadership.

This legal interpretation underscores how professional bodies in Sudan are adapting their governance structures to ensure continuity during the current crisis, providing a practical example of applying bylaws under extreme duress.

The Sudanese Journalists' Syndicate (نقابة الصحفيين السودانيين) recently announced a three-month extension for its governing council's term, a decision made on Monday, September 14, 2026. This move comes as the ongoing conflict in Sudan (حرب السودان) continues to prevent the scheduled convening of the General Assembly. The extension, however, was not met with universal approval, leading to the resignation of three council members who expressed their objection to the measure.

The council's decision to extend its tenure is firmly rooted in the syndicate's foundational documents, specifically invoking Article 28/6 of its bylaws (المادة 28/6 النظام الأساسي نقابة الصحفيين). This particular article grants the council the authority to manage the syndicate's affairs for an initial period of three months, with the possibility of renewal, under conditions of force majeure. Such conditions are defined as circumstances that impede the regular convocation of the General Assembly and the election of a new leadership body.

While acknowledging that the timely holding of the General Assembly represents a fundamental democratic entitlement that should ideally be fulfilled, the council stressed that the prevailing war conditions made it impossible to conduct the meeting safely and in person. This legal interpretation underscores how professional bodies in Sudan are adapting their governance structures to ensure continuity during the current crisis, providing a practical example of applying bylaws under extreme duress.

The primary obstacle preventing the General Assembly from convening was the inability to ensure a secure and accessible environment for its members. The syndicate's bylaws, updated in 2022, explicitly mandate an in-person attendance requirement for the General Assembly. This stipulation proved insurmountable given the widespread insecurity and logistical challenges across Sudan, further exacerbated by the significant dispersal of journalists both within the country and abroad.

The council also explored alternative solutions, such as holding the meeting remotely, but ultimately deemed these options impractical. Technical and security limitations, coupled with the fragmented geographical distribution of its membership, rendered virtual assemblies unfeasible. This inability to conduct a free and fair participatory process for its members led to the conclusion that the General Assembly could not be held as required, directly contributing to the current تعذر انعقاد الجمعية العمومية السودان.

The council framed the three-month extension as a provisional measure designed to avert an institutional vacuum within the syndicate. Its stated purpose is to allow time for the completion of necessary technical, administrative, and logistical preparations required for a future General Assembly. The ultimate objective remains the orderly transfer of leadership to a newly elected council, ensuring the long-term democratic functioning of the organization.

Despite this stated intent, the decision sparked internal dissent, culminating in the استقالة أعضاء مجلس نقابة الصحفيين. These three members resigned in protest, highlighting the أزمة نقابة الصحفيين السودانيين and the challenges of maintaining unity and democratic principles during a national crisis. The council's actions and the subsequent resignations exemplify the profound حرب السودان تأثير على النقابات and other professional bodies striving to maintain their operations and democratic integrity.

This case provides a practical example of how Sudanese professional bodies are interpreting and applying their bylaws (specifically Article 28/6) to ensure governance continuity during the ongoing conflict, offering insights for lawyers advising similar organizations on navigating constitutional challenges under force majeure conditions.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune.