Arabic version: احتجاز صحفي سوداني في القاهرة والنقابة تطالب بالإفراج عنه
According to Allafrica, Sudanese journalist Attaf Mohamed Mokhtar had been under arrest for a week, with Egyptian authorities yet to make any allegations against him public. Mokhtar is the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Al-Sudani and was reportedly detained in connection with a social media post criticising Sudan’s internal affairs, although Egyptian authorities have not confirmed or denied that account.
Mokhtar fled Sudan with his family and settled in Cairo after civil war began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. He is known as a vocal critic of the role of external powers supporting the RSF and interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs.
The SJU called for Mokhtar’s immediate release and said it had contacted senior Sudanese government officials to seek his freedom. The union said it was deeply concerned about his fate because there was no information about his health or the circumstances that led to his detention from his Cairo apartment.
International Federation of Journalists General Secretary Anthony Bellanger also demanded Mokhtar’s immediate and unconditional release. Bellanger said the detention raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and could have a chilling effect on exiled journalists in Egypt who fear intimidation and harassment for expressing their views.
The IFJ said independent journalism and critical voices are particularly important in conflict zones because they inform citizens and help shape public opinion. It noted that Egypt hosts exiled journalists from across the region and said their safety must be guaranteed.
