Sudanese Journalists Syndicate: 47 Cybercrime Act Violations Against Journalists

• The Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate has documented 673 violations against journalists since April 15, 2023, with the total count recorded by the end of June 2026.
• These violations include 34 killings, 116 cases of arbitrary arrest or enforced disappearance, and 120 instances of threats and hate speech.
• Five journalists, including Ashraf El Habr and Musab El Hadi, are currently subjected to enforced disappearance, with their captors or locations often unknown, while Mustafa Fadl El Mawla, Magdi Youssef El Zein, and Mohamed Hussein Shalabi are detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
• The syndicate documented 64 legal prosecution cases, with 47 journalists facing complaints under the Cybercrime Act in one instance, leading to 18 being declared wanted fugitives.
• Recent amendments to the Cybercrime Act and, more specifically, the October 2026 amendment to Article 51/A of the 1991 Criminal Act have expanded their scope to electronic and media publishing, raising concerns about freedom of expression safeguards.

The syndicate has issued a stark warning regarding recent amendments to the Cybercrime Act and Article 51/A of the 1991 Criminal Act, which have expanded their scope to encompass electronic and media publishing.

The Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate (SJS) has meticulously documented a staggering 673 violations targeting journalists since the conflict erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023. This comprehensive tally, recorded by the end of June 2026, underscores a severe deterioration in the security and professional environment for media professionals. Among these documented incidents are the killings of 34 journalists, 116 cases involving arbitrary arrest, detention, or enforced disappearance, and 120 instances of threats and hate speech. Additionally, the syndicate noted 34 direct targeting and gunfire incidents, alongside physical assaults, looting, institutional abuses, and cross-border violations, all contributing to a climate of fear and repression.

Particular concern surrounds the five journalists currently subjected to enforced disappearance. Ashraf El Habr was last seen in areas under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), while Musab El Hadi’s captors remain unknown. Mustafa Fadl El Mawla, Magdi Youssef El Zein, and Mohamed Hussein Shalabi are all detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SJS also highlighted the detention of Adam Ishaq Manan and Maamar Ibrahim by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), emphasizing the critical lack of information regarding detainees held in SAF-controlled territories and calling for their immediate release and the establishment of their whereabouts.

Beyond physical threats, journalists in Sudan face significant legal challenges, with the SJS documenting 64 prosecution cases during the ongoing war. A particularly alarming development involved 47 journalists and media organizations who faced complaints under the Cybercrime Act in a single instance, leading to 18 of these individuals being declared wanted fugitives. The syndicate has issued a stark warning regarding recent amendments to the Cybercrime Act and, more specifically, the October 2026 amendment to Article 51/A of the 1991 Criminal Act, which have expanded their scope to encompass electronic and media publishing. These legislative changes represent a significant threat to Sudan press freedom violations.

Further compounding these concerns is the establishment of a national mechanism to combat cybercrime in October 2026, which the SJS views with apprehension due to the absence of robust safeguards for freedom of expression. This new framework, coupled with the expanded reach of the Sudanese Cybercrime Act amendments, creates a perilous environment where legal provisions can be readily misused to silence critical reporting. The documented Sudanese Journalists Syndicate Cybercrime Act violations highlight a systemic issue where legal instruments are weaponized against the press, exacerbating Sudan journalist impunity.

In response to the escalating crisis, the SJS Freedom Secretariat has urgently called for independent and transparent investigations into all crimes targeting journalists, demanding that those responsible be held accountable. The syndicate advocates for the repeal of restrictive legal provisions that curtail freedom of expression and the press, urging an immediate end to the deployment of criminal laws and emergency powers as instruments of repression. These demands are central to achieving meaningful Sudanese media law reform and ensuring the safety of media professionals.

The SJS also insists on full protection for the journalistic community and guaranteed access to information, asserting that combating impunity is fundamental to safeguarding press freedom and society’s right to know. Echoing these sentiments, Sudan’s Women Journalists Network has also warned of increasing violations, particularly against women journalists, amidst a growing culture of impunity, widespread availability of weapons, proliferation of armed militias, and weakening state institutions. Their report, also marking International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, called for an end to the conflict, disarmament of militias, and thorough investigations into all crimes against journalists to secure justice and redress for victims.

Lawyers advising journalists or media entities in Sudan must be acutely aware of the documented misuse of the Cybercrime Act and Article 51/A of the 1991 Criminal Act, particularly following recent amendments and the establishment of new cybercrime mechanisms. This necessitates reviewing legal strategies for defending journalists against prosecution and advocating for stronger freedom of expression safeguards.

Source: Original reporting via syndicate statements