SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Washington Post – Sudan’s people have a taste of democracy and free expression. They want more
Jason Rezaian examines the state of freedom of expression in Sudan following the military coup.
“In the past two years, the greater degree of press freedom has allowed Sudanese to discuss and debate their problems and challenges in a deeper and more frank way, beyond slogans and whitewashing,” Isma’il Kushkush told said. He fears there will be setbacks.
Rezaian added that the internet shutdown was “most alarming,” with Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, saying “this is what we fear the most. Sudan was one of the last remaining open media spaces in the region…To see this backlash is an ominous sign for Sudan and the region”.
Mansour added that: “as we’ve seen before, these censorship tactics are the hallmark of a government that wants to conceal its action on the ground, including massive human rights violations”.