Sudanese journalist Eisa Dafallah has been named among the 25 finalists of the inaugural The Stringer Awards 2026, organised by The Stringer Foundation. The foundation recognised the finalists for demonstrating courage in the face of physical attacks, legal threats, and financial hardship.
Based in Kampala, Dafallah is an independent freelance journalist whose work has been published in both local and international outlets. His reporting primarily focuses on Darfur, where he has spent over a decade covering conflict, human rights, and under-reported crises across print and radio platforms. Earlier this year, he was also longlisted for the 2026 One World Media Awards (Journalist of the Year), in recognition of his reporting on one of the world’s most overlooked conflicts.
“These reporters are the last line of accountability, working on the frontlines, often receiving little institutional support or public recognition,” the foundation said in a statement. “Those reporters who benefit from the stability of staff positions go above and beyond to report from dangerous places in the public interest.
“The Stringer finalists set the global standard for courageous journalism, and The Stringer Foundation is honoured to support their stability, outreach, and safety.”
The 2026 awards recognise 25 journalists from across the globe — from Sudan to India to Russia — many of whom operate without institutional backing. Of the finalists, eight are listed as “emerging journalists” and 17 as “senior journalists,” highlighting both new and established voices working under significant risk and financial constraint.
Among the emerging journalists is Sophie Neiman, an award-winning independent freelance reporter and photojournalist covering conflict and human rights across East and Central Africa. Her recent work includes reporting from the frontlines of Sudan’s war, rebel-held areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and communities in Mozambique affected by ISIS-linked violence.
The recognition comes amid growing risks for journalists in Sudan. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate has reported cases of detention and enforced disappearances in conflict zones, underscoring the dangers faced by reporters on the ground.
Winners of The Stringer Awards 2026 are set to be announced in November, while applications for the 2027 edition will open in September 2026.
For more information, visit stringerjournalism.org/awards.
