The Case of Photojournalist Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja: Between Arbitrary Detention and Violation of Press Freedom in Sudan—He Has Spent Around 14 Months in Detention.
Executive Summary
The Darfur Victims Support Organization documents the case of photojournalist Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja, a Sudanese journalist from Central Darfur State, who has faced a continuous series of violations linked to the armed conflict in Sudan. These violations began with his arrest by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during 2024 and his detention for several months before being released in exchange for a financial ransom, and concluded with his re-arrest by the Joint Security Cell in the city of Port Sudan on April 29, 2025.
Information obtained by the organization indicates that the victim was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during his detention, and was held for a long period before being brought to trial, amid repeated postponements of court sessions. He faces serious charges under Articles (50) and (51) of the Sudanese Penal Code, alongside articles from the Cybercrimes Act.
The case raises serious concerns regarding respect for press freedom, the right to liberty and security of person, and fair trial guarantees, especially given the continuous detention of a civilian journalist without a swift adjudication of his case, alongside the deterioration of his health and humanitarian conditions.
First: General Background
Since the outbreak of the armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, journalists and media professionals have become one of the groups most vulnerable to risks and violations, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, threats, killing, and the restriction of media coverage.
The collapse of civilian institutions and the expansion of military operations have led to unprecedented restrictions on press freedom, with a large number of journalists being targeted by various parties to the conflict. This has directly impacted the free flow of information and the safety of media workers.
The case of Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja comes within this context as a model that combines targeting by different parties during the conflict and the subsequent successive violations of his fundamental rights.
Second: Information about the Victim
- Name: Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja
- Profession: Photojournalist
- State: Central Darfur
The victim worked for years in the field of photojournalism, documenting events and developments related to the conflict in the Darfur region—an activity that falls under the right to freedom of expression and access to information, which is guaranteed under international human rights law.
Third: First Arrest by the Rapid Support Forces
According to information received by the organization, Abdul Aziz was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces in mid-2024, where he was detained for several months under harsh conditions.
During the detention period, he was unlawfully deprived of his liberty before being released after paying a financial ransom amounting to 1.5 million Sudanese pounds.
Following his release, he received repeated death threats, which prompted him to leave the area to preserve his life.
Information indicates that his exit was coordinated with the government of Central Darfur State, led by the State Governor Mr. Mustafa Tambour and Deputy Governor Dr. Mudathir, with the aim of providing a safe passage for him after security risks escalated.
Fourth: Second Arrest by the Joint Security Cell
On April 29, 2025, upon his arrival at Port Sudan Airport, the Joint Security Cell stopped Abdul Aziz and arrested him.
Information indicates that during the initial period, he was detained for more than two months under conditions described as harsh, during which he was subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and insults, leaving physical and psychological effects that persist to this day.
The organization believes that the continued detention of a journalist who was previously a victim of arrest by one of the parties to the conflict, only to be arrested again by another entity, reflects the fragility of the protection granted to journalists in Sudan and raises serious concerns regarding their safety and the independence of their professional work.
Fifth: Trial and Delays in Judicial Procedures
Following the end of the initial detention period, Abdul Aziz was transferred to Port Sudan National Prison, where a case was open against him under: - Article (50) of the Sudanese Penal Code
- Article (51) of the Sudanese Penal Code
- Articles (26) and (27) of the Cybercrimes Act
Despite being arrested on April 29, 2025, he was not brought before a court within a reasonable timeframe.
Information obtained by the organization clarifies that the first trial session was scheduled for June 11, then postponed to June 18, before being postponed again to July 8, without a resolution on the case.
This repeated delay raises concerns regarding respect for the right to trial within a reasonable time and the impermissibility of continuing detention for prolonged periods without judicial resolution.
Sixth: Health and Humanitarian Conditions
Information indicates a significant deterioration in Abdul Aziz’s health condition during the detention period.
He suffers from health problems that require specialized medical care, at a time when the high temperatures in the city of Port Sudan exacerbate his daily suffering inside the prison.
Furthermore, his family suffers from harsh humanitarian and economic conditions as a result of the ongoing conflict, as they reside in war-affected areas, while his children face health problems requiring treatment and care, and he is unable to provide any support to them due to his continued detention.
The organization believes that his continued detention under these conditions compounds the humanitarian harm inflicted upon him and his family.
Seventh: Human Rights Concerns
The Darfur Victims Support Organization believes that this case raises a range of human rights concerns, including: - Arbitrary detention
- Torture and ill-treatment
- Deprivation of a trial within a reasonable timeframe
- The use of charges affecting national security against a civilian journalist
- Restriction of press freedom and freedom of expression
- Harm to the right to health
- Infringement upon the rights of the family and children as a result of prolonged detention
Eighth: International Legal Framework
The facts presented in this case may constitute a violation of a number of international obligations, including: - The right to liberty and security of person
- The prohibition of arbitrary detention
- The prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment
- The right to a fair trial within a reasonable time
- The right to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the press
- The right to receive healthcare during detention
These rights are protected under: - The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
- The Convention against Torture
- The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
- The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
Ninth: Demands of the Darfur Victims Support Organization
The Darfur Victims Advocacy Organization calls for: - The immediate release of journalist Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja, or bringing him to a trial that fulfills all justice guarantees without further delay.
- Opening an independent investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment during his detention.
- Ensuring he receives urgent and regular medical care.
- Enabling his family and lawyers to communicate with him on a regular basis.
- Ensuring that criminal laws or cybercrime laws are not used to restrict legitimate journalistic work.
- Calling upon the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on torture, and relevant regional mechanisms to follow up on the case.
- Taking effective measures to protect journalists and media workers in Sudan from arbitrary detention and retaliation due to their professional work.
Conclusion
The case of Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Saleh Arja represents a disturbing image of the challenges faced by journalists in Sudan amidst the continuous armed conflict, where media work has often turned into a source of danger rather than being a legitimate practice guaranteed by national laws and international covenants.
The Darfur Victims Support Organizationyý believes that protecting journalists and ensuring the independence of their work is not merely a matter concerning individual rights, but represents a fundamental pillar for protecting the right to knowledge and promoting accountability and the rule of law.
The continued detention of Abdul Aziz under these conditions sends a negative message regarding the state of press freedom in Sudan, and demands urgent action from the Sudanese authorities and the international community to ensure respect for his fundamental rights and to end the violations he has been subjected to.
