Sudan: Journalist abducted by paramilitary group in El Fasher

Muammar Ibrahim, a Sudanese freelance journalist who had been reporting on the war in El Fasher for the last two years, was detained by members of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 26 October. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Sudanese Union of Journalists (SUJ), in condemning Ibrahim's arrest and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. The IFJ reiterates that the RSF, which has been involved in the direct targeting of journalists and media houses, must be held accountable.

Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arrive in the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region on October 28, 2025. Credit: - / AFP

A video circulated on social media on 26 October, in which Ibrahim appears surrounded by soldiers. He introduces himself and confirmshis arrest while attempting to leave El Fasher, North Darfur, amid RSF's advance in the besieged city. Ibrahim had been documenting the war in El Fasher over the last two years.

At the end of the video, a soldier can be heard saying "This is [for you] to know that we are holding this journalist and [you can] get in touch with us." So it appears that the journalist was kidnapped in an attempt to secure a ransom or to be exchanged.

Since May 2024, El Fasher has been besieged by the RSF paramilitary group, which has been fighting a war with Sudan's army for over two years. On 26 October, the RSF announcedit had seized control of the city.

"We deplore the unlawful arrest of Muammar Ibrahim, who has committed no crime and is being targeted solely for documenting the ongoing war. The RSF has been consistently attacking journalists and media workers to silence them, and it must be held accountable for its brutal actions. The IFJ calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ibrahim and all journalists unjustly detained," said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.

In 2024, Sudan was the deadliest country for journalists in Africa, according to the IFJ Killed List. This grim trend has clearly continued, with six journalists and media workers killedin the country by October 2025.