Sudanese photojournalist Faiz Abubakr Mohamed has been selected by World Press Photo as a participant in the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass, in recognition of his documentary and editorial work examining political upheaval, conflict, and their impact on communities in Sudan.
Now in its 30th edition, the Joop Swart Masterclass has announced 13 participants chosen from more than 200 nominated photographers by an independent selection committee. This year’s programme will focus on the SWANA region, supported by funding from the Porticus Foundation.
Mohamed’s project, When Life Becomes a Battlefield, is set in Khartoum amid Sudan’s ongoing war. It explores the human consequences of a conflict that has transformed the city into a landscape of destruction and displacement. Through his work, he documents how civilians endure both direct violence and the breakdown of essential services, capturing scenes of damaged homes, overcrowded shelters, humanitarian aid distributions, and forensic teams recovering unidentified victims.
Seen here is a selection of images from ‘When Life Becomes a Battlefield’, Sudan, by Faiz Abubakr Mohamed:
1. A Sudanese woman draped in a traditional vibrant garment Her gaze carries untold stories of endurance, reflecting the heavy emotional toll and the unwavering spirit of women amidst the country’s ongoing crisis. 18 December 2024.
2. A man watches thick black smoke engulf his city’s skyline, in Khartoum, 2023. The scene captures the helplessness and anxious anticipation of civilians forced to witness the destruction of their neighborhoods from afar amid ongoing clashes.
3. Scattered white tents serving as temporary shelters for displaced people, in Al Qadarif State, 2024. A harsh new reality imposed on those fleeing the scourge of war, as they face severe daily challenges to secure basic necessities and shelter.
4. Civilians try to extinguish raging fires amidst thick plumes of smoke, highlighting their resilience of striving to save whatever they can with limited, basic resources, in Al Obeid, Kordofan State, 2026.
Mohamed is a well-known name within World Press Photo. In 2022, his image ‘Sudan Protests‘ by Sudanese photographer Faiz Abubakr Mohamed was selected as a regional winner in the 2022 World Press Photo Contest.
Launched in 1994, the Joop Swart Masterclass is World Press Photo’s best-known educational program for emerging photographers in the field of documentary photography, photojournalism, and visual storytelling. For the third year in a row, the masterclass will continue to focus on the SWANA region, thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation.
For more information, visit www.worldpressphoto.org/education/programs/joop-swart-masterclass.
