The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the announcement by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) regarding the killing of its El Fasher office director, Taj Al-Sir Mohamed Suleiman, and his brother, after they were executed inside their home in the Al-Daraja neighborhood by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the agency. CFJ considers this crime a grave violation of press freedom and human rights in conflict zones.
SUNA stated that Taj Al-Sir had been performing his journalistic duties “with utmost dedication and commitment,” remaining steadfast in his media responsibilities until the very last moments before his death, defending the rights of his fellow citizens against crimes including killings, executions, and sexual violence. The agency noted that he was among the journalists who went missing following the RSF’s entry into El Fasher in recent days.
With the RSF tightening its grip on El Fasher, the city has entered one of the darkest chapters in its modern history, amid growing reports of widespread violations against civilians, medical staff, and journalists. These violations include killings, direct targeting, arbitrary arrests, and raids on vital facilities. These developments have coincided with a severe deterioration in humanitarian conditions, marked by the collapse of essential services and restricted access to aid, exacerbating civilian suffering and forcing thousands to flee under extremely perilous circumstances.
CFJ stressed that these violations constitute a blatant breach of international treaties ratified by the Republic of Sudan, including the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly the Fourth Convention on the protection of civilians during armed conflict, the First Additional Protocol of 1977, which stipulates the protection of persons not directly participating in hostilities, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life and security, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention.
The Committee called for an independent and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances of the crime and hold those responsible accountable. It also urged the international community and human rights organizations to intervene urgently to ensure the protection of journalists and media professionals in conflict zones, as they represent the frontline in defending the right to information and exposing violations.
