Abdel Moneim Abu Idris, Chairman of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS), announced his resignation today, citing mounting pressure and a deepening crisis within the Syndicate.
Sources within the SJS told Assayha that the rift began over a memorandum submitted by the chairman more than a month ago. The document, signed by several journalists, called for the Syndicate to withdraw from the Coordination-body of the Democratic and Civil Forces (Tagadom), allegedly under pressure from General al-Burhan’s Port Sudan Authority.
This move was met with strong opposition from the Syndicate’s council and members, who rejected the memorandum, known as the “Memorandum of Ten,” calling it a betrayal of journalistic integrity. These members condemned any collaboration with parties involved in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, insisting that the Syndicate should not be used as a tool by the military or any of the factions fighting in the war between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
Tensions have also been fueled by accusations from journalists, who claim the Syndicate has shown bias in its reporting of the conflict, with some alleging that it favors the SAF and jihadist factions.
Adding to the controversy, sources revealed a professional lapse on the part of Abu Idris, who allegedly omitted references to the SAF and allied jihadist battalions in a statement issued by the Syndicate’s Media and Information Committee concerning violations committed during the Canabi Massacres in Wad Medani.
The pressure, combined with his failure to meet the expectations of Port Sudan authorities, ultimately led to Abu Idris’s resignation, marking a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for journalistic independence in Sudan.
