Sudan’s Port Sudan SAF junta has suspended Lina Yaqoub, Sudan bureau chief for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, and revoked her press accreditation after the channels reported on the whereabouts and conditions of ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir. The Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism framed the move as protecting “national security” and the “public interest.”
In a statement, the ministry accused Yaqoub of “major and repeated professional violations,” citing catch-all claims of unverified reporting, anonymous sourcing, and publication of “sensitive military details.” It even faulted alleged “provocative language” and use of AI-generated scenes without disclaimers.
These are elastic pretexts that SAF junta deploys to muzzle scrutiny, not standards applied evenly across the media landscape.
Junta authorities stressed the order targets Yaqoub personally, not the two channels’ licenses. In practice, singling out a bureau chief sends a chilling message to every reporter: coverage that embarrasses the rulers—especially anything touching Bashir’s protection or the military’s conduct—will be punished. This is a well-worn tactic from the Bashir era, revived by Port Sudan’s power brokers who have tightened their grip and normalized censorship since reclaiming the levers of the state.
The decision fits a broader pattern of burying inconvenient reporting under “security” labels, criminalize routine newsgathering, and ignore correspondence when the press asks uncomfortable questions (including on alleged chemical weapons use). Revoking a press card—or arresting a journalist—has become an “ordinary” lever of control.
