State news agency says Sudan has suspended the work of Al Arabiya, Al Hadath and Sky News Arabia channels

(Reuters) – Sudan on Tuesday suspended the work of Saudi state-owned broadcasters Al Arabiya, Al Hadath and the UAE-owned Sky News Arab channel over “a lack of commitment to the required professionalism and transparency and failure to renew their licenses.” Reason” suspended. the Sudanese state news agency (SUNA) said.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the Information Ministry’s decision, saying it was a clear violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

“Shutting down satellite channels and banning those working in the profession will silence the voice of professional media and also open the way for the spread of rumors and hate speech,” the syndicate said in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement said the decision was taken as part of the intimidation tactics imposed on journalists working in harsh conditions since the war began last April.

Al Hadath said in a post on Twitter that it had not yet been informed of the decision to suspend the work of its channel and Al Arabiya in Sudan.

Another post on X said, “We were surprised to hear of the decision to close Al Hadath and Al Arabiya channels on state TV.”

The war in Sudan, which is approaching its first anniversary, erupted over disputes over the powers of the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) under an internationally backed plan for political transition toward civilian rule and free elections.

(Reporting by Yomna Ehab; Writing by Adam Macari; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sandra Maler)

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