Crushed in Omdurman: The Killing of Halima Idriss Salim and the Call for Justice

October 16, 2024 – Sudan –

Halima Idriss Salim—30, a reporter for the online news outlet Sudan Bukra, was tragically killed in Omdurman when a vehicle belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck her as she reported on escalating conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces.

Despite the gravity of the incident, no formal investigation has been launched into her death nearly a year later. The International Press Institute (IPI) has called for a transparent, independent inquiry into her killing, emphasizing this demand ahead of the first anniversary of the fatal incident. IPI also urged international pressure on Sudanese authorities and warring parties to guarantee journalists’ safety amid the ongoing civil war, as at least 12 journalists have died and many more have been detained or forced into hiding since the April 2023 outbreak.

RSF condemned the death as an assault on press freedom and demanded that authorities hold those responsible accountable. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate echoed this, stating the killing “deprived Sudanese citizens of an important source of access to the right to independent reporting,” and called out the conflict parties for intentionally targeting media professionals.

According to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Salim’s killing, driven by her role as a civilian journalist, amounts to a violation of international humanitarian law—journalists in conflict zones must be protected at all costs.

In the broader context of civil war, Sudan ranks near the bottom of global press freedom indexes. Journalists face widespread threats: physical violence, detentions, equipment seizures, internet blackouts, and forced exile. Census figures from IPI and RSF document the deaths of at least a dozen journalists since the conflict began.

Salim’s death is emblematic of a brutal media crackdown playing out against the backdrop of inter-military hostilities. Press freedom watchdogs—including CPJ, UNESCO, IPI, and RSF—remain resolute in demanding accountability, independent investigation, and the restoration of journalists’ rights in Sudan’s conflict zones.

Reference –

Sudan: IPI reiterates call for justice for journalist Halima Idriss Salim