Zimbabwean Journalist Denied Bail After Arrest Over Critical Interview
March 21, 2025
French Court Sentences Mehdi Nemmouche to Life Imprisonment for Hostage-Taking in Syria
March 21, 2025
March 21, 2025 – Sudan –
Three journalists and their driver were killed in Sudan on March 21, 2025, when a drone strike targeted their vehicle amid fierce fighting in Khartoum. The attack was carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are locked in a violent conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The journalists were reporting on the SAF’s efforts to retake the Republican Palace, a key government site. This tragic incident underscores the extreme risks journalists face while covering conflict zones in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
The victims were Farouk al-Zahir, a producer and director; Magdy Abdel Rahman, a camera operator; Ibrahim Mudawi, an editor and director who later died from injuries sustained during the strike; and their driver, Wajeh Jaafar. The media crew was affiliated with Sudan’s state television, which may have made them a target for the RSF forces. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that journalists should never be deliberate targets in armed conflicts. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate echoed this condemnation and highlighted the increasing dangers for media workers amid the ongoing violence.
Since the outbreak of fighting between the SAF and RSF in April 2023, Sudan has become an especially perilous environment for journalists. At least twelve media professionals have been killed in connection with the conflict, with many more facing harassment, detention, and other threats. The drone strike on the state TV crew reveals the deadly escalation in the tactics used during this civil war, where paramilitary forces appear to be deliberately targeting journalists affiliated with the opposing side. Such attacks have a chilling effect on press freedom and the public’s right to information during times of crisis.
The international community continues to call for stronger protections for journalists in Sudan, urging all parties to respect media independence and human rights. Until effective measures are in place, journalists in the region remain vulnerable to violence and censorship. This incident highlights the urgent need for accountability and safeguards to ensure that those who risk their lives to report the truth are protected.
Reference –
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces kill 3 state TV journalists and their driver in drone strike
Sudan: News crew killed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone attack
