Sudan journalists in Uganda call for support
John Odyek
Journalist @New Vision
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Journalists from Sudan have gathered in Kampala to discuss ways of sustaining their work amidst the war in their country.
They are receiving training on how to report during difficult circumstances as their work supports dialogue that can hopefully bring peace in the war-torn Sudan.
Samira Ibrahim, a journalist with Monte Carlo Doualiya (MCD), said journalists and civil society organisations have travelled from far to attend the conference.
CFI, the French Ministry of Foreign affairs' media development agency, has organised the closing seminar and last coordination conference of the Kalimat Sudania project on April 23, 24, and 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kampala.
“Journalists have a role to promote press freedom, they should see how to work amidst trauma, war,” Doualiya said.
The Kalimat Sudania project strives to increase the inclusion of young people in public debate, strengthen local journalism, and boost collaboration between the media and civil society, notably through local digital media.
Mayan Attia, the project manager of CFI, said the war started in the middle of the project and has given support to journalists working during the civil war.
Attia indicated that the conference was relocated to Uganda because of the large number of Sudanese journalists who have found refuge there and the easy access that this country offers.
“Many journalists have worked under difficult conditions, gathering content from remote villages at night to provide information and help find solutions to what is happening,” Attia said.
It takes courage to be a journalist
Adrian O’Hara, the ambassador of the EU to Sudan, said CFI is running the project to support Sudan under difficult circumstances.
“One year ago the French special forces evacuated us from Khartoum. Sudan has endured a lot, and the word put in the media helps. We should never underestimate the power of words, words solve problems,” O’Hara said.
“It takes courage to be a journalist in Sudan or a wordsmith. Hate speech and disinformation should be avoided,” he added.
O’Hara said supporting Kalimat Sudan through CFI is part of efforts for democratic transition, promoting dialogue and inclusivity.
According to O’Hara, journalists from Sudan bring out stories from various communities and localities. He emphasized that safety is key while covering war. In this respect, journalists and human rights defenders from Sudan said they experienced intimidation and their human rights violated as they report daily on the situation on the ground and carry out their work.
EU to support journalists
“The EU will support journalists by compensating them for assets lost in war to enable journalists to do their advocacy for peace. The media and the Internet are sometimes closed. Those armed are sometimes afraid words might get out about their actions”
He said that the EU has adopted sanctions against parties and companies aiding the conflict in Sudan.
“Military solutions will not help Sudan. The words of journalists matter. We need to keep the media free, without media there will be no opportunity for dialogue and to stop the war”.
Dangerous circumstances
Thierry Vallet the chief executive officer of CFI said that Sudan noted that the coup and civil war in Sudan have created dangerous circumstances.
Vallet said with the war ongoing they had to undertake training for many journalists using online platforms.
Xavier Sticker, the ambassador of France to Uganda, asked the world not to forget Sudan.
Sticker disclosed that about 20,000 Sudanese are hosted as refugees out of the 1.6 million refugees in Uganda. Most of them are here in Kampala.
Khalida Almana a radio journalist from Sudan said they do coverage of women in conflict areas, peace building, and social-based violence. She said many media stations do not have mobile phones. She criticized the high cost of the Internet and mobile phones.
First victims of war
Magdi El Eiman, a researcher from Sudan, said the first victims of war were media practitioners and journalists to silence them.
Eiman said violations of the human rights of journalists have forced journalists to relocate from their homes and others to abandon the profession.
Because of the war, according to Eiman, journalists have had to close media houses. Similarly, there was fake news and misinformation from warring parties.
Eiman added that all media tools are used to support war efforts. She noted that nothing is being done to stop hate speech and misinformation”.
The journalist also raised concerns about Internet outages, which make work difficult for journalists to communicate.
Eiman expressed sadness that journalists were arrested, and their property looted. Some others have had their homes attacked and others have been imprisoned in unknown places: “There is no protection for journalists”
She observed that six journalists were killed over the last year, many disappeared, and 39 journalists have faced threats through mobile phones and social media campaigns.
She revealed that 28 journalists had been shot at, 100 forcibly incarcerated, 27 cases were under house arrest, 10 radio stations in Khartoum were looted, closed, premises converted into hostels and dormitories.
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