EU: Include support for independent media in Sudan in international response
Three years into the war in Sudan, the country is facing the world’s most severe and under-reported humanitarian crisis. In this context, independent media in Sudan play an indispensable role by providing fact-based and reliable information, both during the conflict as well as in Sudan’s post-conflict transition towards sustainable peace. The EU’s words of commitment to “increased engagement” should now be turned into deeds at the EU Ministerial Conference on Sudan in Berlin on April 15th 2026.
On social media platforms, such as META’s Whatsapp and Facebook, RSF and SAF are spreading misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. Both parties have created dozens of websites and fake accounts on social media platforms to control the flow of information. They are using these as tactics of war with the aim to win public opinion and to incite violence by deepening divisions.
We therefore call on the European Union to include meaningful, sustained support for independent media as a core element of the international response to the Sudan crisis, across the civilian, humanitarian and political tracks. This means that:
- Media actors must be systematically and meaningfully engaged in the design and implementation of the civilian stakeholder platform and peace process.
- Access to reliable information must be recognized as a component of humanitarian aid.
The EU must go beyond rhetorical support and establish dedicated funding mechanisms to support Sudanese independent media.
Why independent media matterMeaningful engagement of media in civilian stakeholder platform
The war in Sudan is not a civil war, it is a war against civilians. By covering the war from a civilian perspective, independent media safeguard the civilian voice in a militarised information environment. Moreover, a shared foundation of fact-based and reliable information serves as a basis for healing, reconciliation, public trust and cohesion for a future civilian-led Sudan. For a credible and inclusive civilian stakeholder platform and peace process design, the meaningful engagement of media actors is indispensable.
Protecting information as humanitarian aid
The rampant spread of dis- and misinformation is obstructing humanitarian aid delivery and erodes trust amongst communities. In this context, independent and reliable information can - quite literally - be lifesaving for citizens. They rely on trusted local information providers to navigate insecurity, displacement, health risks and access to assistance. Without it, families miss critical information about evacuation routes, safe corridors and displaced people lose access to accurate information about aid eligibility and service locations. Independent media provide trusted, public interest information, ensuring that affected communities can access relevant and timely information when it matters most.
Strengthening political accountability and informed decision-making
In the recent EU Council Conclusions on Sudan and EU statement at the last UN Human Rights Council session, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to support the documentation and investigation of IHL violations and underlined that there must be accountability. Independent media are key to documenting war crimes and evidence of violations of International Humanitarian Law in order to ensure accountability and justice.
Furthermore, in an information landscape where disinformation is rampant, media infrastructure has almost completely been destroyed and most journalists have been forced to flee, independent and timely information on the developments in the war is scarce. Independent media operating from exile, such as Radio Dabanga, have become essential sources of information for policymakers and international decision-makers, providing reliable and fact-based information. Media also fulfill a critical role in holding parties to a future peace agreement to account in their implementation of the commitments made.
