Sudan suspends Al Arabiya, Al Hadath and Sky News Arabia channels

The bureau chief of the Al Arabiya Arabic office in Sudan said the channel was not officially informed of the decision and could therefore not determine when operations should cease. (AFP/File)
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  • Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemns decision of ministry
  • This would 鈥榮ilence鈥� media, encourage 鈥榬umors and hate speech鈥�

DUBAI: Sudan suspended 黑料社区鈥檚 state-owned broadcasters Al Arabiya and Al Hadath and the UAE-owned Sky News Arabia channel on Tuesday 鈥渄ue to its lack of commitment to the required professionalism and transparency and failure to renew its licenses,鈥� according to Sudan鈥檚 state news agency.

The bureau chief of the Al Arabiya Arabic office in Sudan said the channel was not officially informed of the decision and could therefore not determine when operations should cease.

鈥淲e reject accusations of unprofessionalism and we have been covering since the beginning of the war,鈥� she said.

Al Hadath stated, in a post on X, that it had not been notified of the decision to suspend the work of its channel and Al Arabiya in Sudan.

Al Arabiya鈥檚 Sudan bureau chief said that the licenses for offices of both broadcasters in Sudan have been renewed periodically.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the decision taken by the information ministry, saying it was a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

鈥淐losing satellite channels and restricting those working in the profession would silence the voice of the professional media, and would also open the door to the spread of rumors and hate speech,鈥� it said in a statement.

The war in Sudan, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, erupted over disputes about the powers of the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under an internationally backed plan for a political transition toward civilian rule and free elections.

Since the conflict began, more than 13,000 people have been killed and 8 million displaced, according to the UN.