An unknown number of armed individuals shot and killed Khalid Balal on March 1, 2024, in his home in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, according to news reports and two local journalists familiar with the case who spoke with CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
Balal was the media director at the Supreme Council for Media and Culture, a governmental regulatory body overseen by the Media and Culture Ministry in smaller cities. He was also a member of the local trade union Sudanese Journalists Syndicate.
CPJ was unable to determine who killed Balal or the reason for his murder. The two local journalists who spoke with CPJ attributed Balal’s death to his work in journalism and the media sector.
Sudan plunged into chaos in April when clashes erupted in the capital, Khartoum, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a paramilitary group known as Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
CPJ’s emails to the SAF and RSF requesting comment on Balal’s death did not receive any replies.