The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killing of a journalist in Sudan’s besieged capital in a press release on Tuesday, urging the Sudanese authorities to investigate whether the attack was targeted. The CPJ stressed the heightening risks to journalists in Khartoum, who are “struggling to survive.”

According to the CPJ, a drone strike hit journalist Alnor Suleiman Alnor’s home on Friday in El Fasher, the besieged Sudanese city in North Darfur. Alnor was taken to the only operational hospital in the city, and died from his injuries the following day. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reflected on Alnor’s journalistic contributions, namely his contributions as an editor and presenter of El Fasher Radio, and Media Director in the North Darfur Governor’s office.

An anonymous journalist informed the CPJ that “Alnor was one of El Fasher’s most prominent media voices.” The source, who requested anonymity for safety, believes that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) “deliberately targeted” Alnor’s home. Alnor’s friend and colleague, Mohammed Ahmed, informed Al-Jazeera that attending Alnor’s funeral was made impossible by “drones hovering overhead” and “relentless” bombing.

CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah issued a statement on the attack:

Sudanese authorities must swiftly investigate whether Alnor was targeted for his reporting and hold those responsible to account. Both warring parties must immediately stop attacking journalists and other civilians, and ensure reporters can work safely to cover the war.

According to the head of the SJS, Abdelmoniem Abuedries, 32 journalists have been killed since the outbreak of the civil war. CPJ data reports that 7 members of the press have been killed in 2025, with motives confirmed behind five of these deaths. In January, the RSF issued a statement accusing journalists and media correspondents of engaging in mercenary activity. This was condemned by the SJS as a threat to freedom of the press and called for the protection of journalists. According to Reporters Without Borders, “attacks and abuses against journalists have increased significantly” since the start of the civil war in 2023.

Journalists are protected under the 1949 Geneva Conventions (Additional Protocol I) Article 79. However, Reporters Without Borders highlights that the civil war “has led to legislative changes,” granting Sudan’s “General Intelligence Service unlimited powers in matters of surveillance … along with broad impunity for its members.”