Sudan renews Al Jazeera work license, excludes Al Jazeera Mubasher 

Sudanese authorities yesterday renewed the annual work licence of the Al Jazeera News Network, with the exception of its Al Jazeera Mubasher channel.

The Sudanese National Council for Press and Publications said in a statement that its Chairman, Abdul-Azim Awad, received in his office the director of the Al Jazeera office in Khartoum, Al-Muslim Al-Kabbashi, and “conveyed to him the professional and objective observations on Al Jazeera‘s performance.”

“Al Jazeera Mubasher continues to broadcast from Khartoum through private means, which is closer to piracy, as it is outside the official frameworks agreed upon,” the statement added.

On 16 January, Sudanese authorities revoked the licence of Al Jazeera Mubasher citing “unprofessional coverage” of developments in Sudan; in reference to its broadcasts surrounding the popular anti-coup protests.

At the time, the Information Ministry said the channel’s “unprofessional approach … harmed the country’s higher interests and national security.”

Since last 25 October, Sudan has witnessed protests rejecting exceptional measures taken by army chief, Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, most notably the imposition of a state of emergency and the dissolution of the Sovereignty Councils and the Transitional Ministers.

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