The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate has announced its withdrawal from the Sumoud civilian coalition and an end to its institutional participation in any political or organisational alliance involved in the conflict, saying the move aims to safeguard its independence.
The syndicate’s council said the decision should not weaken civilian forces opposed to the war. It reaffirmed its commitment to media freedom, opposing the conflict and advocating peace while remaining independent of political rivalries.
Separately, the council extended its mandate by three months beyond the end of its current term in the third week of November 2026, citing wartime conditions that prevent the general assembly from convening.
The extension prompted three syndicate members — Khalid Fathi, Mashaer Darrag and Sara Taj al-Sir — to submit their resignations in protest. They argued that the decision should be referred to the general assembly as the body with the authority to rule on it.
The three said their objections had not been accepted, but that they had handled the disagreement responsibly to preserve the syndicate’s unity and avoid a split.
The council based the extension on Article 28/6 of the syndicate’s statutes, which allows the incumbent council to continue managing its affairs for renewable three-month periods when exceptional circumstances prevent the general assembly from meeting.
It acknowledged differing legal interpretations of the provision but said its decision relied on legal opinions, including advice from the Sudanese Bar Association’s steering committee.
Apologising to journalists for its inability to hold the assembly on schedule, the council acknowledged that the war had prevented it from fulfilling a democratic obligation.
It described the extension as a temporary measure to prevent an institutional vacuum, saying it would end once the exceptional circumstances had passed.
During the extended term, the council plans to complete the technical, administrative and logistical preparations for an inclusive, in-person general assembly. It also intends to hold consultations with union bodies and committees inside Sudan and abroad.
