Raids in four Sudanese newspaper publications, TV channel shutdown

Sudanese security services seized four independently running newspaper publications and also ordered a private television channel to close down after coverage of opposition protest.

Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday night seized the copies o Tuesday editions of the Al-Ayam and Al-Jareeda, Al-Tayyar, Al-Youm al-Tali newspapers without giving any explanation. All the copies of the newspaper were confiscated.

The newspaper covered the national strike by opposition groups against fuel subsidy cuts. The Monday edition of the newspaper carried the front page headline: “Outstanding Day in Khartoum”.

The editor-in-chief of Al-Jareeda newspaper, Ashraf Abdelaziz, confirmed the confiscation of their Tuesday copies saying their losses will affect their Wednesday edition.

The editors of the two other newspapers were not immediately available but journalists from both daily newspapers confirmed the seizure of their Tuesday copies.

Meanwhile, private television station Omdurman TV was ordered on Sunday by the Director of Sudan’s General Authority for Radio and Television Broadcasting to close down.

The four newspapers and television channel covered broadly the calls by leading Sudanese opposition groups on Saturday for a three-day nationwide strike against fuel subsidy cuts despite police crackdown.Since then rallies have been staged in the capital and other towns, while anti-riot police have rounded up more than a dozen opposition leaders to prevent widespread protests.