Sudan National Television: From War’s Devastation to Reconstruction

Sudan National Television was among the first national institutions to be engulfed by the flames of war following its outbreak in April 2023, serving as a symbol of the state, its visual memory, and its official voice directed both domestically and internationally. Since its establishment, it has played a fundamental role in delivering official discourse and accompanying the major transformations Sudan has witnessed over decades.

Assessment of Damages

The Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism, Mr. Khaled Ali Al-Aissar, visited the headquarters of the Sudanese Broadcasting and Television Corporation in Omdurman city, where he conducted a field inspection of the extensive destruction sustained by the corporation. He revealed that the corporation incurred losses estimated at over fifteen million dollars, resulting from the destruction and damage of technical equipment, the theft of approximately fifty transmitters, and the disruption of thirty radio broadcasting stations operating on medium and short waves.

Systematic Destruction

Mr. Hago Ahmed Mohamed, Chief Editor of News Bulletins at Sudan Television, told “Brownland” that the corporation’s building had been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces militia since the outbreak of the war. The militia had been present inside the building since 2019, enabling them to seize control of radio and television from the first moments. He added that their failure to operate the station and maintain broadcasts led them to engage in systematic sabotage targeting equipment, facilities, buildings, and studios.

He noted that the television station suffered widespread destruction encompassing equipment, assets, and facilities, including broadcast vehicles and live transmission equipment. He pointed out that preliminary estimates issued earlier assessed losses at over 30 million dollars, with the figure potentially increasing after completion of inventory and assessment operations.

According to his statement, the technical, engineering, and technological departments were the most affected, along with studios that suffered total destruction, particularly the Ali Shamo Studio, Studio B, and the News Studio hall, posing a significant challenge to any attempt at restoration.

Return to Broadcasting

In a move reflecting an orientation toward recovery and reconstruction, the television station resumed broadcasting once again, presenting its first news bulletin from its official headquarters in Omdurman after a hiatus of approximately three years, during which broadcasts were relocated to Port Sudan. This coincides with attempts to restart several service and sovereign institutions, and this return represents an indicator of the state’s efforts to restore its institutional presence and reactivate the role of official media during a phase characterized by political and security complexities, amid hopes that this step will contribute to supporting stability.

Mr. Hago Ahmed described the broadcast restoration process as a “great epic” that faced numerous risks and challenges, beginning with the movement of the team tasked with restoring broadcasts from Port Sudan, through gathering and movement operations within areas and neighborhoods of Khartoum State, reaching Wadi Seidna after fifty days from the outbreak of war.

He explained that work began from scratch under extremely complex circumstances, with the aim of enabling the television to perform its national role in confronting propaganda media campaigns. He emphasized that the institution succeeded in restoring broadcasts and seizing the initiative.

The Resilient Memory – Television Archives

The Sudan Radio and Television archives represent an immensely important intellectual and cultural heritage that includes the paper library, film units and cinematic production, and television and radio recordings that document national, political, social, and cultural events over more than seven decades since the establishment of radio in 1940 and the beginning of television broadcasting in 1962.

It can be considered a repository of rare historical materials that contribute to preserving national identity and transmitting experiences to future generations. However, it did not survive completely intact, as the archives faced direct threats from sabotage operations and the possibility of burning or destruction. Accordingly, concerned authorities appealed to international organizations, such as UNESCO and organizations working in the field of preserving material and human heritage, to intervene to protect this legacy and ensure continued access to historical materials, and to avoid losing this precious cultural heritage.

In this regard, Mr. Hago Ahmed stated that the television archives largely survived damage and sabotage, explaining that following the liberation of the television building, the library was found in good condition. He added that there are a number of backup copies and archives that were digitally archived before the outbreak of war. Despite the incomplete archiving project, it represented a qualitative leap in preserving the television’s visual memory.

He explained that the National Broadcasting and Television Corporation is one of the most important official institutions speaking on behalf of the state and society, noting that plans to rehabilitate the infrastructure are based on a comprehensive vision within state plans, and according to the directions of the Ministry of Information and the corporation’s management, in the short, medium, and long term.

He emphasized that the television’s return to its headquarters in Omdurman represents a significant shift reflecting indicators of national recovery, supporting programs for return to homes and reconstruction and rebuilding, especially in light of the hostile propaganda media campaigns these programs are exposed to.

Conclusion

Between the devastation of war and attempts to rise again, the return of Sudan Television to broadcasting remains more than merely restoring a signal on the screen, but rather a step in a long path toward rebuilding national media and restoring its role in a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.