Qulu, January 16 (Darfur24)
Journalists and activists on Thursday accused the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nour, of imposing severe restrictions on press freedom and civil activity in areas under its control in Darfur.
In late December, the movement issued new regulations governing media work in Central and North Darfur, requiring media institutions and journalists to obtain official licenses from the media sector to operate.
Journalists told Darfur24 they face growing obstacles in covering humanitarian and security developments, forcing some to work discreetly or flee the region after being displaced there. They said the new regulations effectively legalize censorship and restrictions on press and public freedoms.
One journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, described reporting in the movement’s territories as a “dangerous adventure” that could end in arrest or even death. A photojournalist said taking photographs in SLM-controlled areas is now treated as a criminal act.
A human rights activist also criticized the restrictions on freedom of expression, stating that the movement’s intelligence apparatus prevents activists from speaking to the media, contradicting the pro-freedom slogans the movement publicly promotes.