Sudanese Journalist Returns to War-Devastated Newsrooms

Return to a Ruined Khartoum

• journalist Shamay Elnor returned to Khartoum two years after fleeing the civil war.
• She found her home damaged and the country's once-busy newsrooms looted and abandoned.

Impact on Sudan's Media Landscape

• 📰 Sudanese print newspapers were already struggling due to an economic crisis and the shift to digital news.
• 🛑 The fighting brought newspaper production to an immediate standstill, with many unable to publish PDFs due to salary issues and halted advertising.
• 📉 An estimated 27 newspapers, 40 radio and TV stations, and around 1,000 journalists ceased working.
• 💔 Over 30 journalists are estimated to have been killed.

The Rise of Disinformation

• 🌐 Digital outlets have emerged to fill the void, but many are sponsored by warring parties or political interests.
• 🗣️ A parallel disinformation war is being waged on social media, leaving traditional media in a precarious state.

Personal Impact and Loss

• 📍 Elnor, who previously worked as an independent journalist, describes a favorite restaurant that served as her office as a calm spot suitable for working.
• 😥 She expresses deep sadness and nostalgia for the staff and her routine there, noting it is a very sad thing to see it in its current state.