The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is the latest recipient of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, in recognition of its role in condemning the deliberate targeting of media workers during the conflict.
The announcement was made on 30 April 2026 ahead of World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on 3 May.
Khaled Al Enany, the UNESCO Director-General, commended members for their extraordinary courage and unwavering dedication. “Despite immense challenges, they continue, day after day, to deliver accurate, lifesaving information to their communities when it matters most,” he said. “Their commitment is a powerful example to us all and a vital service to truth, accountability, and peace.”
The SJS is a professional organisation representing journalists in Sudan. It was re-established in August 2022 after more than three decades of absence, following the dissolution of the last independent journalists’ union in 1989 when former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir came to power through a coup d’état. The syndicate advocates for press freedom and professional standards, while contributing to Sudan’s democratic and civil transformation. It also seeks to secure a minimum wage, health and social insurance, and paid maternity leave for its members. The union comprises more than 1,300 members and provides health coverage.
For Abdelmoniem Abuedries Ali, chair of the collective, the award “is not only a recognition of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, but a tribute to all Sudanese journalists who continue to defend truth and press freedom under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.” He added that “it reaffirms the vital role of independent journalism in safeguarding democratic values and amplifying the voices of civilians affected by war.”
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which broke out in April 2023, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian and displacement crises. Since then, the SJS has documented 32 journalist deaths and approximately 556 violations against media workers, alongside the closure of numerous newspapers and radio stations, “making Sudan one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist,” according to UNESCO.
The ongoing war has severely disrupted news gathering and further deteriorated the media landscape. Journalists have faced threats, violence, and arrest; around 90% of media infrastructure has been destroyed; and reporting has been hindered by internet and telecommunications blackouts. Journalists such as Muammar Ibrahim were reportedly captured by the RSF in Al Fasher in October 2025.
“These conditions effectively render the country a ‘zone of silence’ in which large parts of the population exist in an information vacuum,” UNESCO said, while disinformation and propaganda are spreading widely, fuelling hatred and polarisation.
According to UNESCO, the syndicate has supported Sudanese journalists since the war began. Its efforts include helping to establish the Sudanese Media Forum, comprising more than 20 media outlets, which advocates for press freedom and maintains international attention on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
UNESCO has also conducted a survey to identify journalists’ needs, leading to the establishment of two safe spaces in the coastal city of Port Sudan. So far, 49 journalists have received direct support, including assistance with relocation within Sudan and abroad.
At least 14 Sudanese journalists and media workers were killed in 2025 alone due to targeted attacks and shelling, primarily attributed to the RSF, making Sudan one of the deadliest countries for media personnel. Recent victims include Taj Al Sir Ahmed Suleiman and Al Nour Suleiman Al Nour, both killed in Al Fasher, underscoring the systematic targeting of journalists during the war.
Source: UN News
