A Solidarity Human Rights Statement | May 3, 2026
On World Press Freedom Day, celebrated annually on May 3, Sudan Rights Watch Network commemorates this occasion amidst one of the darkest periods in modern Sudanese history. The April 15 war continues to undermine the foundations of the state, tear apart the social fabric, and close off the public sphere, including the fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression.
This war has led to a brutal reality, the repercussions of which extend beyond human and material losses. It has directly and systematically targeted civil society and freedom of expression by targeting human rights defenders, journalists, political and social activists from all backgrounds, and anyone seeking to convey the truth or hold the parties to the conflict accountable. In an environment dominated by armed violence, free speech has become a direct target, and the truth itself is subject to repression and distortion.
Human rights and media reports indicate a widespread pattern of violations related to freedom of expression during the war. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate documented at least 67 violations against the press in 2025 alone, including the killing of 14 journalists in direct or indirect targeting, as well as arbitrary arrest, detention, threats, confiscation of equipment, and the closure of media outlets, according to the syndicate. Other estimates suggest that more than 35 journalists have lost their lives since the outbreak of war in April 2023, a worrying indicator of the escalating targeting of journalists in the country.
The violations were not limited to journalists; they also affected human rights defenders and civil society actors. United Nations reports documented a widespread pattern of arbitrary arrest and detention without charge of tens of thousands of people, including activists and volunteers, in harsh and degrading conditions, with no contact with their families and denied basic legal safeguards, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Human rights organizations have also reported that parties to the conflict have intimidated and arrested humanitarian volunteers and imposed restrictions on their activities, including targeting community kitchens and detaining their staff, according to Human Rights Watch.
In a broader context, official data reveals a catastrophic scale of war-related violations, with more than 28,613 deaths and 43,575 injuries. There have also been 14,506 cases of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, along with thousands of documented cases of sexual violence, including at least 1,392 rapes—figures that likely represent only a fraction of the true extent of the violations. This overall context reflects a hostile environment in which freedom of expression and civil rights cannot flourish.
Freedom of expression was also directly impacted by the near-total collapse of media and communications infrastructure. Media outlets were shut down or disrupted, access to information was blocked or restricted, and frequent internet and communications outages isolated communities and undermined the flow of reliable information. In this vacuum, disinformation campaigns and hate speech proliferated, further complicating the situation and weakening citizens’ ability to distinguish between truth and propaganda.
Targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and social and political activists is not merely an individual violation of their rights, but an attack on society as a whole. It silences independent voices, obscures the truth, and undermines opportunities for accountability and justice. Continued impunity for these violations encourages their repetition, deepens the climate of fear, and closes the door to any genuine democratic transition. On this day, Sudan Rights Watch Network affirms that freedom of expression remains an inalienable right, even in times of conflict. Indeed, its importance increases in such circumstances, as it is a fundamental tool for exposing violations, documenting crimes, protecting victims, and promoting the prospects for sustainable peace. The Network also emphasizes that international humanitarian law and human rights law impose clear obligations on all parties to the conflict to respect and guarantee this right.
Accordingly, the Network calls on all parties to the conflict, particularly the Rapid Support Forces, the army, and their allies, to immediately cease all violations related to freedom of expression, guarantee the safety of journalists and media workers, release all those detained for their peaceful activities, and lift restrictions imposed on civil, human rights, and media work. It also calls for enabling access to information and ensuring the continuity of communication services, thus allowing citizens to freely express their opinions and participate in public affairs.
The Network further appeals to the international community and regional organizations to intensify their efforts to protect freedom of expression in Sudan by supporting monitoring and documentation mechanisms, providing protection for human rights defenders, and exerting the necessary pressure to ensure accountability for perpetrators of violations. In this context, it emphasizes the importance of supporting independent media as the first line of defense against violations, and reaffirms its commitment to defending freedom of expression as the cornerstone of any democratic society. It stresses that upholding this right amidst war is a battle for human dignity and for the future of Sudan. Without freedom of expression, there can be no truth, and without truth, there can be no peace.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
3 May 2026