Egypt Journalists Syndicate. Al-Ahram
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, the Syndicate denounced the RSF’s “deliberate campaign of violence and intimidation” against Sudanese journalists, calling it a blatant violation of international law and human values.
The Syndicate said it continues to receive “horrifying reports” from independent international organisations and the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, detailing a “brutal assault on press freedom aimed at silencing the voice of truth,” amid a total communications blackout in El-Fasher.
According to the statement, reports document the disappearance of at least 11 to 13 journalists in El-Fasher under mysterious circumstances, with families unable to learn their fate.
The reports also document sexual violence against female journalists, with at least three confirmed cases of rape allegedly committed by RSF fighters — acts constituting war crimes under international law and part of a wider pattern of systematic sexual violence, described by the UN Human Rights Commission as “horrific.”
In addition, the complete shutdown of communications and internet access in El-Fasher constitutes a deliberate attempt to conceal war crimes, isolate the city, and obstruct humanitarian aid.
The Syndicate called for an international investigation into these crimes to ensure accountability and prevent impunity, noting that perpetrators have circulated footage of their own crimes “in a dangerous precedent reflecting a total collapse of accountability.”
It also demanded an immediate ceasefire and an end to all acts of violence against civilians and journalists across Sudan, the disclosure of the whereabouts of missing journalists, and the immediate release of any detained media professionals, ensuring their safety and mental well-being.
The Syndicate further urged the restoration of communications and internet services in El-Fasher to facilitate the flow of information and humanitarian access. It joined the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate in its call for establishing safe corridors to evacuate journalists and civilians and to deliver emergency aid. “The Egyptian Press Syndicate will not stand by as crimes are committed against our colleagues,” the statement read.
“Failure to act swiftly would be a betrayal of human conscience and of the professional fraternity that binds us. We will use all available channels to pressure for the protection of journalists in Sudan and urge regional and international media and rights organisations to move before it’s too late.”
“Let the banner of truth rise above every weapon,” the Syndicate concluded.
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