Condolences are flowing in for the late Mahjoub Mohamed Salih, a revered Sudanese journalist who passed away at the age of 95 in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
Journalists from South Sudan and Sudan have taken to social media to express their sorrow over the loss of the iconic media figure, founder of Sudan’s oldest independent newspaper, Al-Ayyam, established in 1958.
“We mourn the dean of Sudanese journalists, Mr Mahjoub Mohamed Salih, a fierce warrior on the path of peace and justice, defender of democracy and human rights,” wrote journalist Isma’il Kushkush.
Mahjoub Mohamed Salih began his journalistic career in 1949 after joining the Sudanese independence movement in Egypt. He gained prominence covering the 2003 war in Darfur, which led to the Sudanese government temporarily shutting down Al-Ayyam from November 2003 to January 2004, citing tax-related issues.
Despite facing imprisonment multiple times for his reporting on the Darfur crisis, Salih continued his unwavering dedication to journalism. In 2005, he was honored with the Golden Pen of Freedom Award by the World Association of Newspapers.
Sumaya Elmatbagi, a former reporter for Al-Ayyam, expressed her grief for her former editor-in-chief in a poignant post, saying, “You left us without saying goodbye – even to the homeland that you loved, struggled and fought for all your life.”
Mahjoub Mohamed Salih’s legacy is remembered as a passionate advocate for freedom, peace, humanity, and dignity. His voice, now silenced, continues to resonate, calling on journalists to uphold these cherished values.
