By William Emily l Date: May 8, 2026
Sudanese journalist Adam Issac Minan has reportedly been detained by the Rapid Support Forces in North Darfur, raising fresh concerns about press freedom and the safety of media workers amid Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict. Rights organizations and international press advocates have condemned the detention and called for his immediate release.
According to reports highlighted by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Minan was abducted on April 5 in Kutum, North Darfur, during what the organization described as an “arbitrary detention campaign” targeting journalists and media professionals operating in conflict zones.
The journalist’s detention comes as fighting between Sudan’s military and the RSF continues to devastate large parts of the country, particularly the Darfur region. Media organizations say journalists covering the war increasingly face threats, intimidation, abductions, and violence from armed groups and security forces.
The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Since then, thousands of civilians have been killed while millions have been displaced across Sudan and neighboring countries.
Human rights groups warn that the conflict has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Journalists operating inside Sudan have faced severe restrictions, communication blackouts, and direct attacks while attempting to document atrocities and humanitarian conditions.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said Minan’s disappearance reflects a broader pattern of repression against independent reporting in Sudan. The organization urged armed groups to respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety of journalists covering the conflict.
Several Sudanese journalists have reportedly fled the country in recent months due to fears of retaliation, while others continue reporting under extremely dangerous conditions. Media infrastructure in multiple cities has also suffered extensive damage during the fighting.
International observers say the detention of journalists further complicates efforts to independently verify reports from conflict zones in Sudan, where access for foreign media and humanitarian organizations remains heavily restricted.
The United Nations and multiple international organizations have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and greater protection for civilians in Sudan, including journalists, humanitarian workers, and medical personnel trapped in areas affected by the conflict.