Khartoum, August 15 (Darfur24)
A group of Sudanese, regional and international organisations has warned that hate speech and coordinated misinformation campaigns are deepening ethnic, regional, political and gender divisions in Sudan and threatening efforts to end the country’s war.
In a joint statement, the 12 organisations, including Darfur24 Network, said hate speech had become a “dangerous weapon” in the conflict, inflaming violence, dehumanising communities and undermining prospects for peace.
“Sudan is enduring a devastating war,” the organisations said, noting that millions of people have been displaced, families separated and communities torn apart since the conflict began.
The signatories also raised concern over the spread of coordinated misinformation and defamation campaigns on social media. They said networks aligned with different parties to the conflict were amplifying divisive narratives and false information, further weakening social cohesion and trust.
The organisations rejected the use of language to incite harm and called on Sudanese public figures and community leaders to promote dialogue, empathy and responsible communication.
They urged journalists, religious leaders, academics, educators, artists, youth groups, women’s networks, civil society organisations, political figures and social media influencers to use language that promotes understanding and solidarity rather than hostility and mistrust.
The groups also called on mediators, guarantors and all parties involved in peace efforts to make countering hate speech and incitement an integral part of any peace process.
“Lasting peace cannot be achieved while hate speech and incitement remain unaddressed,” they said.
The organisations further called on social media companies to increase Arabic-language content moderation capacity, strengthen language expertise and establish crisis-response protocols tailored to Sudan. They also urged technology companies to work transparently with Sudanese civil society organisations.
The signatories pledged to develop a sustained and coordinated response to hate speech in Sudan and called on other organisations and individuals to join the effort.
They reaffirmed their commitment to dignity, respect and peaceful coexistence, saying that words should become instruments of reconciliation and peace rather than division and destruction.
The statement was signed by Beam Reports, Dabanga – Radio TV Online, Darfur24 Network, Sudan Facts, The Youth Citizens Observers Network, Labs for Development, Salaamedia, Life & Peace Institute, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNESCO, The Carter Center, and Norwegian People’s Aid.