Rights group tells of abuse in Sudan and Ethiopia polls

There is also concern over intimidation of journalists. The agency cited a case in which the Press Council, a government regulatory body, summoned two editors in March regarding articles critical of President Omar al-Bashir.

In another clear case of interference, authorities removed an article on Darfur from Sudani newspaper written by columnist Haj Warrag. The media environment has also considerably deteriorated in South Sudan. For example, on March 3, security officials stormed the offices of Bakhita FM, a radio station run by the Catholic Church, and Liberty FM, a private radio station, and arrested two directors.

Liberty FM had aired an interview with the campaign manager of an independent political candidate in Juba.

And in January, security agents reportedly arrested Cyrocco Mayom, a journalist for the Juba Post, and beat him for three days. Mayom was accused of helping a journalist from Northern Sudan, whom the security agents accused of being a spy.

“For a free, fair, and credible election, it is essential that all journalists and media organisations are allowed to operate freely,” Gagnon said.