Her death is a stark reminder of the dangers that journalists continue to face in Sudan.
This statement was originally published on ipi.media on 13 October 2023.
Deteriorating atmosphere for press freedom over the last six months amid internal conflict
The IPI global network condemns the gruesome killing of Sudanese journalist Halima Idris Salim and demands a thorough and independent investigation to hold those responsible to account.
On October 10, Salim was killed by elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the two warring factions in Sudan, in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan.
Salim worked for the online media platform Sudan Bukra, based in London, which broadcasts mainly in Arabic. According to reports, she was run over by an RSF vehicle while she was reporting in the street of Omdurman, in Khartoum. She is among the few journalists who courageously returned to Khartoum to carry out their journalistic work despite the risk posed by the conflict to their lives.
Salim is the latest journalist to become a victim of the ongoing power struggle between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Her death is a stark reminder of the dangers that journalists continue to face in Sudan as they are operating in a hostile and dangerous environment.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, on April 15, between SAF and RSF, millions of people, including several journalists, have been forced to flee the country out of fear for their lives, safety, and security.
The safety of journalists and press freedom has been seriously undermined as a result of the conflicts. IPI’s monitoring of the conflict in Sudan has documented several incidents of press freedom violations and attacks on journalists over the past six months, including cases of several journalists injured and killed. For instance, photojournalist Essam Marjan was killed by elements of the RSF, and Samaher Abdelshafee was killed in a camp for displaced people, near Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur.
“The authorities in Sudan must demonstrate their commitment to press freedom by conducting an independent investigation into the killing of Salim, and also of all other journalists that have been killed as a result of the ongoing conflict,” said Nompilo Simanje, IPI Africa Advocacy and Partnerships Lead. “The safety of journalists remains essential amid this conflict to promote access to information and public safety. We urge the Sudanese authorities to do more to ensure the safety of journalists and hold accountable those who target them,” she said.
IPI extends its condolences to the families and colleagues of Halima Idris Salim and continues to call for the addressing of impunity for crimes against journalists.
