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March 17, 2026 – Sudan –
The detention of multiple female journalists by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur has triggered strong condemnation from international media watchdogs, highlighting the escalating dangers facing journalists in the country’s ongoing conflict.
According to recent reports, RSF fighters arrested at least three female journalists in Nyala, South Darfur, after they attended a workshop focused on women in media. The journalists were detained alongside other participants, with no clear charges announced and limited information provided about their conditions or whereabouts.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for their immediate release, emphasizing that journalists are civilians and must be protected under international humanitarian law. Advocacy groups warn that arbitrary detentions such as these are becoming increasingly common in areas under RSF control, where accountability mechanisms remain weak or nonexistent.
Local reports indicate that the arrests form part of a broader pattern of repression against media workers in Darfur. In recent weeks, additional journalists have reportedly been detained or gone missing, while others face threats, harassment, and severe restrictions on their ability to report.
The situation is particularly concerning for women journalists, who face heightened risks, including gender-based violence and intimidation. Rights groups have previously documented cases of abuse targeting female reporters in Sudan, underscoring the vulnerability of women working in conflict-affected regions.
The arrests come amid a wider humanitarian crisis driven by the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which has devastated large parts of the country since 2023. In Darfur, where RSF forces control significant territory, journalists operate under extreme conditions, often without protection, institutional support, or access to basic resources.
Press freedom organizations warn that continued detentions and intimidation of journalists are severely limiting the flow of independent information from Sudan, particularly from conflict zones like Darfur, where access is already restricted. They argue that silencing journalists not only endangers individuals but also obscures the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
As calls for accountability intensify, the detention of these journalists underscores the urgent need for protections that allow media workers to operate safely. Without such safeguards, observers warn that reporting from Sudan will become increasingly constrained, further isolating the realities of the conflict from global scrutiny.
Reference –
https://sudantribune.com/article/311842
RSF paramilitary group detains 3 female journalists in Sudan’s Darfur
