Egypt must account for Sudanese journalist Ataf Mohamed Mokhtar

Washington, D.C., September 11, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of prominent Sudanese journalist Ataf Mohamed Mokhtar and the reasons for his arrest.

Ataf was arrested Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from his home in Cairo, with no official announcement from Egyptian authorities on the legal basis for his detention or his whereabouts, according to a Facebook post from ِِِِAl-Sadiq Al-Rizaigt, the head of the General Union of Sudanese Journalists, and several media outlets. Al-Rizaigi said the arrest relates to Ataf’s journalistic work and the views he has expressed on issues concerning Sudan and the country’s war.

“Egyptian authorities must immediately disclose Ataf Mohamed Mohktar’s whereabouts, the legal basis for his detention, and ensure he has access to his family and lawyer. Holding a journalist incommunicado, seemingly because of his reporting or views, is an unacceptable assault on press freedom,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah.  “Sudanese journalists who fled the war should not have to fear arrests or retaliation in Egypt simply for doing their jobs.”

Ataf is a well-known Sudanese journalist, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Al-Sudani, with more than 125,000 followers on X. He regularly appears as a political commentator on several outlets, including the Saudi-owned Al Hadath channel.

One of Ataf’s most recent posts on X commented on a UN experts report on Sudan that found links between the United Arab Emirates and the war, which the UAE has consistently denied. Several outlets reported that official complaints by the UAE may be the reason behind his arrest, a claim CPJ could not independently verify.

Egyptian security forces have systematically used enforced disappearance — or detention followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person’s fate or whereabouts — to target journalists, who are often mistreated prior to being presented with charges.

Egypt is one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists, with 19 currently behind bars.

CPJ emailed Egypt’s Public Prosecutor’s Office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.