Reactions of welcome and praise have continued following the Sudanese Journalists Union’s win of the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, awarded by UNESCO, one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of press freedom.
Political, trade union, and human rights groups described the award as global recognition of the role played by Sudanese journalism in documenting the war, exposing violations, and defending civilians. They also noted its particular significance given that the union is the only democratically elected journalistic body in Sudan following the Sudanese Revolution of 2018.
The National Umma Party stated that the win reflects the union’s deserved standing and highlights the resilience of Sudanese journalists in the face of repression and authoritarianism, as well as their commitment to journalism as a voice for the voiceless and an independent watchdog.
Meanwhile, the group “Emergency Lawyers,” a civil rights organization, said the award represents international acknowledgment of the vital role journalism plays in documenting violations amid the collapse of formal oversight institutions. It emphasized that journalistic work has become central to preserving public memory and a key element in any future path toward justice.
For its part, the Sudanese Teachers Committee—the founding body of the teachers’ union—described the award as an honor for all independent trade union formations striving for a better reality despite harsh conditions. It added that the significance of this recognition extends beyond journalism to the broader civic and labor space.
UNESCO had announced on Thursday that the Sudanese Journalists Union is the recipient of the 2026 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, in recognition of its role in exposing serious violations faced by journalists and media workers during the ongoing war in Sudan.
