K.T
Dozens of Sudanese journalists condemned a move by the country’s authorities to block a number of news websites, Sudan Tribune reported.
The heads of 15 news websites said that their portals could no longer be accessed. Public prosecutors denied issuing orders to that effect.
The Sudanese government has stayed silent on the issue. Information Minister and Government spokesperson Hamza Baloul could not be reached for comment, according to Sudan Tribune, despite the newspaper’s repeated attempts to contact him.
The blocked news websites include Baj News, Tara News and Azza Press.
Lina Yagoub, the head of Baj News, told the Sudan Tribune that concerned authorities have denied any knowledge of the issue. She added that her website is partially blocked with some users able to access it while others could not.
She added that the blocking of news websites, including Baj News, is a “clear and serious violation of media freedoms.”
Yagoub said that she could not accuse the government of blocking the sites since no official body was “brave enough to claim responsibility” for the move.
Meanwhile The Sudanese Journalists Network condemned the banning of websites by a decision of the Informatics Prosecution, describing the move as an extension of the policies of the former regime and the government of ousted Omar al-Bashir.
in a statement, “We have followed with regret the blocking of a number of websites by the Informatics Prosecution under the direction of the Attorney General.” It added, “Unfortunately, the Informatics Prosecution justified its decision with something worse when it stated that the blocking came for the sake of public safety and reassurance, and that It will continue until public opinion adjusts) said SJN
