Press in Sudan: from Colonial Control to Post-independence Dictatorships

Abstract

This article examines the emergence of the first newspapers in Sudan from the colonial rule up to the post-independent era. It examines the political climate in which the press emerged, developed and controlled – both under colonialism as well as under the military dictatorships which governed the country more the elected governments. It traces how those papers, though initiated by foreign communities, inspired the birth of native Sudanese papers in terms of language, staff, ownership and readership. It explains how the press suffered under both eras but endeavored to contribute effectively to forming enlightened public opinion, constituted a platform for several nationalist figures to emerge and a new generation of thinkers and politicians came out of the press. The article also highlights the Egyptian impact on Sudan by the press and through the press. It reviews the laws issued by the colonial administration as well as by the national dictatorial regimes - both restricted the press and both exercised censorship along with arbitrary measures against journalists. The article also pointed out to the technical and financial problems that had impeded the development of the press in Sudan along with illiteracy and poverty that had been affecting the sales and circulation of the press, besides the accessibility to official news as well as the obstacles hindering the emergence of local printing industry. The article notes that the most repressive, oppressive and suppressive regime of the post-independent era is the military Islamists' government of Al-Turabi/Al-Bashir (1989 – 2019).