Sudanese authorities jail journalist Rishan Oshi over corruption reporting

New York, May 22, 2026—Sudanese authorities must immediately release journalist Rashan Oshi and stop using imprisonment to silence reporting on corruption and other matters of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

On May 18, 2026, authorities arrested Oshi, a program host for local private television channel AlBalad TV, in Port Sudan after a Sudanese court sentenced her that same day to one year in prison and fined her 10 million Sudanese pounds (USD $16,653), according to news reports. 

The court convicted Oshi of defamation under articles 25 and 26 of Sudan’s cybercrime law, according to a journalist following the case, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. The journalist added that the charges were filed over a 2025 article she published on her Facebook page, which has over 400,000 followers, alleging corruption within Sudanese state institutions. In the article, she alleged that an official covered up the sale of diplomatic state property to a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander.

“The imprisonment of journalist Rashan Oshi is deeply concerning and sends a chilling message to journalists reporting on corruption in Sudan,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Sudanese authorities must immediately release Oshi and ensure journalists can report freely without fear of imprisonment or retaliation.”

The brief detentions of journalists Hajar Sulaiman and Miyahelnil Elmubarak in March reflect a growing pattern of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) authorities targeting journalists over reporting related to corruption and other sensitive public affairs issues.

Oshi’s detention comes amid a worsening press freedom environment in Sudan since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the SAF and the RSF, with at least 16 journalists killed by the warring parties and eight others kidnapped by the RSF.

CPJ emailed the SAF for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.