Sudanese journalist Ghurashi Awad was arrested on August 13, 2026, in the town of Berber in River Nile state in northern Sudan, by officers from the criminal investigations department over a complaint filed by Sudan’s General Intelligence Service under the 2007 Cybercrime Law.
On August 15, Awad was released pending trial, according to a local journalist who spoke with CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
Awad’s arrest stems from a video posted the day before his arrest, where he criticized Sudan’s Islamist movement and discussed what he described as a potential plan by Islamists to carry out acts of violence, including bombings and assassinations.
Awad, is a freelance reporter who has contributed to local outlets Natar, and the print newspaper Al-Midan. He regularly publishes videos on his Facebook page commenting on political and economic developments in Sudan.
In a statement, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the detaining of journalists for carrying out their work or expressing their views, saying it constitutes a direct violation of press freedom and the public’s right to know.
CPJ emailed the SAF for comment but did not receive a response.