The Sudanese Armed Forces arrested freelance journalist Siddiq Dalay on May 13, 2024. Dalay’s arrest stemmed from his social media posts about a politician who died from injuries inflicted during his detention by the SAF. (Screenshot: PRO 106.6 FM/YouTube)
By Vincent Samuel,
Military intelligence of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Monday, May 13, arrested Siddiq Dalay—a freelance journalist and columnist who reports on the war and local politics on social media—over a social media comment about the death of Salah el-Din el-Tayeb, head of a local branch of the Sudanese Congress Party.
Salah el-Din, who is a relative of Dalay, died from injuries allegedly inflicted during his detention following his April 17 arrest by the SAF.
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reported the arrest of journalist Siddiq Dalay by military intelligence in Damazin, Blue Nile state, on Tuesday (May 14).
The syndicate strongly condemned Dalay’s arrest, holding military intelligence responsible for his safety and security, and demanded his immediate unconditional release.
The arrest came following the May 1 declaration of the state of emergency in Khartoum State, an emergency order prohibiting the publication of any confidential information related to the country’s security or the regular forces’ plans and military movements, which could serve the enemy.
In a statement extended to Golden Times, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the Sudanese Armed Forces to immediately and unconditionally release freelance journalist Siddiq Dalay, who was arrested over his social media posting.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces must release Siddiq Dalay and allow journalists to work freely to cover and comment on the country’s civil war,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna.
“Dalay should have never been arrested for his social media posting on an item of public interest,” Carlos said.
Since the beginning of the civil war between the SAF and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, journalists have been killed, arrested, harassed, and sexually assaulted.
Attempts to reach the SAF spokesperson for comments on Dalay’s arrest have been futile during the press time.
