UNESCO and MiCT launch Fellowship for Critical Voices to support Sudanese journalists

Sudanese journalists continue to face threats from both warring parties, including death threats, arbitrary arrests and attacks on media workers’ residences.

In response to the escalating hostilities, UNESCO and Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT) have jointly launched an emergency support programme Fellowship for Critical Voices. This initiative aims to enhance the safety of journalists by providing financial, psychological, legal and professional assistance to those most at risk. The programme is designed to offer a short-term response to address the immediate needs of journalists, enabling them to continue their work and deliver essential information in a conflict environment fueled by disinformation and hate speech.

Over the past six months, this collaborative effort has provided financial grants to 70 Sudanese journalists and media workers, meeting their most urgent needs and allowing them to persevere in their roles. More than half of those supported have also received psychological and mental health assistance tailored to journalists who have experienced traumatic events. 

An assessment In the Shadow of Violence – The pressing needs of Sudanese Journalists carried out by MiCT, supported by UNESCO, highlighted the significant psychological impact of the war on media workers. 90 percent of survey respondents reported experiencing psychological threats. The project has also facilitated the relocation of journalists-at-risk to neighboring countries such as Chad, Uganda or Kenya. 

Journalism is my identity; when I left Sudan for Uganda looking for safety, I felt I lost part of it.She had focused on peacebuilding, women’s issues, transitional justice and other conflict-related issues, facing threats due to her journalistic work. The journalist, who received the MICT-UNESCO fellowship in July 2023 emphasized the programme’s usefulness for enhancing her skills and abilities. 

Sudanese journalists continue to face threats from both warring parties, including death threats, arbitrary arrests and attacks on media workers’ residences. A freelance journalist from Khartoum, now residing in a temporary safe space established through the project in Port Sudan said: This programme has become a beacon of hope, a lifeline during the darkest times. It is a sanctuary where we can work without fear. It provides a conducive environment for work and study. Basic amenities like internet allow me to stay connected, it also gives me the peace to introspect, regroup and rethink my future.

Freelance journalist from Khartoum

Despite the ongoing war and widespread fighting, the crisis facing the Sudanese media community remains existential. Urgent additional support is required to protect journalists at risk and to prepare for the recovery and reconstruction of the media sector when conditions permit.