El FASHER – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the killing of Al-Nour Suleiman, an editor and radio presenter at El-Fasher Radio in North Darfur, who died on 4 October 2025 after being wounded in a drone strike that hit his home in Al-Daraja Al-Oula neighborhood, El Fasher.
According to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, the attack was carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have besieged the city for nearly a year and continue to bombard residential areas. The IFJ described the humanitarian and media situation in El Fasher as catastrophic and urged an immediate, independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement released on 14 October 2025, IFJ Secretary-General Anthony Bellanger said the organization had documented repeated targeting of journalists and media institutions by the RSF, viewing it as an effort to silence reporting on the conflict. He stressed that such a crime against journalists should not go unpunished and called for urgent international action to ensure accountability.
Media reports indicated that the strike took place on 3 October. Suleiman sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Saudi Hospital, the only remaining functioning medical facility in the besieged city, where he died the next day. In addition to his media work, Suleiman also served as the communication director in the North Darfur State Governor’s Office.
Reports suggest that the drone strike on Suleiman’s home occurred shortly after an indiscriminate RSF bombardment of a nearby market that killed at least 17 civilians and wounded more than 30 others. Residents said the attacks have become increasingly frequent, adding to the suffering of civilians trapped in El Fasher under siege conditions.
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate noted that the war, which began in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has devastated the journalism sector. More than 90 percent of Sudanese journalists have lost their jobs, while dozens have fled their homes or sought refuge abroad. The syndicate said at least 60 journalists have been arrested since the conflict began, with several others assaulted in their homes or while on duty.
According to IFJ data, five journalists have been killed in Sudan so far in 2025, reflecting a deepening collapse of safety and press freedom. The federation expressed grave concern over the systematic targeting of journalists, the destruction of media facilities, and the absence of protection for those working in conflict zones.
The IFJ reiterated its solidarity with Sudanese journalists and emphasized that they continue to risk their lives to report the truth about the war. The organization urged all warring parties to respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety of media professionals.
As the conflict drags on across Darfur and other regions, local journalists remain on the frontlines of both violence and information suppression, often working without protection resources or the freedom to speak.
