Makawi Mohammed Ahmed, a reporter at the official state news agency of Sudan (SUNA), and his brother Shamseddin Mohamed Ahmed were killed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during its Wednesday attack on the village of Wad Al-Noura, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate said.
In a Wednesday statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate mourned journalist Makawi, stating that he was killed during RSF’s attack on the village of Wad Al-Noura in Al Gazira State.
The Journalists Syndicate condemned the Rapid Support Forces’ continued attack on safe villages, and said Makawi was working for the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA)and took refuge due to the war in the village of Wad Al-Noura, where he was killed.
“The Journalists Syndicate extends its condolences to the family and friends of journalist Makawi, and calls on the warring parties and regional and international institutions to quickly put an end to this war,” the statement reads in part.
Separately, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was shocked by reports that journalist Makawi Mohamed and his brother were killed by the RSF in the village of Wad Al-Noura.
The independent organization urged a swift and thorough investigation into Makawi’s killing.
“We are shocked by the brutal Wednesday killing of journalist Makawi Mohamed Ahmed and his brother at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces. This is the second journalist who has been killed in Sudan this week, showing how extremely dangerous the country has become for journalists and their families,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna. “Sudanese authorities must immediately investigate Ahmed’s killing, and all parties to the conflict must ensure the protection of journalists covering the war.”
On Wednesday, RSF soldiers attacked the village of Wad Al-Noura in Al Gazira state, killing about 100 people.
Since the war broke out between the Sudanese army and the RSF in April 2023, at least three other journalists have been killed. On Tuesday, the RSF killed journalist Muawiya Abdel Razek and three of his family members in his home in the Al-Droshab neighborhood, north of Khartoum Bahri.
RSF officials could not immediately be reached for comment.