Media’s War on Truth: How Disinformation Undermines Sudan’s Sovereignty

By Berhane Taklu-Nagga
In times of national crisis and civil war, words carry the weight of life or death. Misinformation is not merely a journalistic misstep—it becomes a weapon, a form of soft warfare that manipulates perception, legitimizes illegality, and fuels impunity. That is exactly what Sky News Arabia, a Dubai-based outlet, has done by propagating the dangerous and delusional narrative that Sudan currently has “two governments and two armies.” This is not journalism; it is propaganda dressed in a press badge.
This insidious tactic is precisely what Sky News Arabia, a Dubai-based media outlet, has demonstrated by actively propagating the dangerous and entirely fallacious narrative that Sudan is currently governed by “two governments and two armies.” Such a distortion is not merely a deviation from journalistic principles; it is, unequivocally, propaganda cloaked in the guise of legitimate press reporting, serving to destabilize and deceive rather than inform.
UAE Propaganda Disguised as Journalism
Sky News Arabia operates out of Dubai. It is no secret that UAE-based media do not function independently—they serve state interests. In broadcasting the delusional claim that Sudan has “two legitimate governments and two armies,” Sky News Arabia is not practicing journalism. It is amplifying the foreign policy objectives of the UAE, which has been credibly accused by the UN, independent investigators, and global human rights organizations of backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—a militia responsible for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and the siege of Al Fasher.
The RSF will never be a government. It is not a political movement. It is a criminal paramilitary network operating under the protection and funding of foreign sponsors. Its so-called “Sudan Founding Alliance” (TASIS) is a paper entity—a political mirage designed to rebrand war criminals as statesmen. TASIS, as an armed faction, lacks the fundamental attributes of statehood necessary to exercise sovereign functions such as issuing passports or administering justice. Under international law, the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) outlines the criteria for statehood, which include a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. TASIS does not meet these criteria, particularly in terms of stable governance and international recognition, which renders any official documents it attempts to issue legally invalid. From a legal perspective, any document purporting to be a national identification or travel permit issued by TASIS would be considered null and void under international law. Such documents would not be recognized by other states or international organizations, making them unusable for legitimate travel or identification purposes. The issuance of such documents by a non-state actor like TASIS constitutes an unauthorized usurpation of state authority and lacks the legitimacy or capacity to perform state functions. Politically, TASIS’s attempt to issue official documents is a fraudulent act designed to project an image of legitimate authority that it does not possess. This action undermines the sovereignty of the recognized Sudanese government and can destabilize regional security by creating confusion and facilitating illicit activities. Such documents should be treated as counterfeits, as they lack any legitimate legal or political backing and represent a clear challenge to established international norms and governance structures. Its documents are not worth the ink used to print them.
The Truth According to International Law
Let us be clear: Sudan has only one internationally recognized government, and only one national army—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This is the position of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the United States of America, the People of Chain, and virtually every state in the international community. There is no ambiguity in diplomatic or legal recognition. The principle of sovereign equality under Article 2 of the UN Charter, coupled with the Montevideo Convention’s definition of statehood, affirms that legitimacy stems from recognition, governance, and territorial integrity—not from armed insurgency or media narratives.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a criminal paramilitary militia responsible for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide in Darfur and elsewhere, is not a national army. It is not a “government” and never has been. It is a rogue militia under international scrutiny, currently facing calls for referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for grave violations of international humanitarian law and customary international law.
No Recognition, No Legitimacy: Global Legal Precedents
The international legal order is clear: recognition is the foundation of legitimacy. No amount of violence, territory captured, or staged declarations can confer statehood or sovereign authority. Recognition is earned through constitutional legitimacy, popular consent, and international law—not through bloodshed or press releases.
This principle is not new. Consider:
• Libya: More than a decade after Gaddafi’s fall, rival governments and militias have vied for control. Yet the UN recognizes only one legitimate government in Tripoli. Militias in Benghazi or elsewhere do not enjoy international legal standing.
• Afghanistan: Despite the Taliban’s complete territorial control since 2021, the Taliban regime is still not recognized by the United Nations. No official seat at the General Assembly. No legitimate credentials to govern globally. Why? Because brute force alone does not create a legitimate government.
By these standards, TASIS is not a government. It is a rogue outfit attempting to hijack statehood with guns, gold, and Gulf-sponsored narratives.
Sky News Arabia: Complicit in Destabilization
The statement made by a Sky News Arabia anchor—who, disgracefully, is a Sudanese national—claiming the existence of “two governments and two armies” is not just factually false. It is legally reckless, morally bankrupt, and politically inflammatory. Such disinformation emboldens war criminals, undermines the fragile efforts toward peace, and sabotages the diplomatic integrity of institutions working to resolve the crisis in Sudan.
We remind Sky News Arabia and its editorial leadership: Freedom of the press does not extend to the freedom to fabricate sovereignty. The platform’s repeated soft coverage of the RSF and its so-called “Sudan Founding Alliance” (TASIS) is tantamount to whitewashing terrorism. Hemedti and his militia are not political actors; they are fugitives of international law masquerading as statesmen.
By irresponsibly platforming these narratives, Sky News Arabia has not only violated journalistic ethics—it has potentially breached the UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Journalistic Responsibility, which requires factual accuracy and avoidance of incitement to violence.
Disinformation and Bias in Sky News Arabia’s Coverage
Sky News Arabia, a Dubai-based news outlet, has been criticized for advancing the narrative of “two governments and two armies” in Sudan, which is widely considered disinformation. This approach is seen as aligning with the foreign policy interests of the UAE, which has been accused by the UN and human rights organizations of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sky News Arabia’s coverage has highlighted the RSF’s capabilities and manpower, with some reports suggesting it whitewashes terrorism by presenting the RSF and its Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) as legitimate political actors. Such reporting is viewed as legally reckless and politically inflammatory, potentially undermining peace efforts and journalistic ethics. The RSF has also been accused of using social media for psychological warfare, spreading false news and rumors to demoralize the army and create chaos among civilians.
Al Jazeera Arabic News: Commitment to Factual Reporting
In contrast, Al Jazeera Arabic news has been commended for its in-depth, fact-based, and impartial coverage of the Sudan conflict. Al Jazeera’s reporting emphasizes the humanitarian crisis and the devastating impact on civilians, consistently portraying the RSF as a lawless, criminal paramilitary group rather than a legitimate authority. This commitment to factual accuracy and neutrality has earned Al Jazeera greater trust among its audience and experts, who view its reporting as a reliable account of the complex situation in Sudan. Al Jazeera’s approach stands out for clearly distinguishing between legitimate state institutions and rogue militias like the RSF, which lack the attributes of statehood and international recognition.
The Sudanese People Speak with One Voice
Let it be known: The Sudanese people have not appointed two governments. They do not recognize two armies. From Khartoum to El Obeid, from Port Sudan to Kassala, from the camps of displaced civilians to the frontlines of resistance, the people of Sudan have made their will clear—they reject paramilitary terror, they reject ethnic separatism, and they reject the foreign-funded narratives that seek to fragment their nation.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) remain the sole constitutional military institution of the Republic of Sudan. As affirmed under the 2005 Interim National Constitution, only the SAF has the mandate to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. No amount of media manipulation can rewrite this reality.
A Call for Accountability
We call on:
• Sky News Arabia to issue an immediate correction and public apology for broadcasting disinformation that undermines Sudan’s territorial integrity and international legal status;
• The African Union and United Nations to explicitly reaffirm that only one government and one national army exist in Sudan;
• All media organizations and human rights institutions to cease legitimizing or platforming actors complicit in mass atrocities and unconstitutional attempts to usurp power.
Sudan’s sovereignty is not for sale. Its unity is not up for debate. And its people will not be silenced by microphones that serve the interests of warlords and their foreign backers.
International Law and Recognition of Statehood
Under international law, particularly the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933), statehood requires a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. The Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS), formed by the RSF and allied political factions, lacks these fundamental attributes of statehood necessary to exercise sovereign functions like issuing passports or administering justice. The international community, including the UN, African Union, Arab League, and various countries, recognizes only one legitimate government and one national army in Sudan—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Any documents issued by TASIS are considered legally void and politically fraudulent, as they are not recognized by other states or international organizations. The formation of a parallel government by the RSF is seen as a move that could deepen divisions and potentially lead to the de facto partition
Conclusion: Words Matter, Truth Matters More
At this critical juncture in Sudan’s history, misinformation is a tool of war. Those who amplify the lie of “two governments and two armies” are not neutral; they are active participants in Sudan’s destabilization. Journalism without integrity becomes propaganda, and propaganda, in the hands of war criminals, becomes complicity in atrocity. Sudan’s future will not be determined in Abu Dhabi boardrooms or on biased TV studios; it will be shaped by its people, on their land, under their flag. And no amount of media distortion can change that truth. The people of Sudan deserve better. The world owes them clarity, justice, and solidarity—not confusion, false equivalence, and betrayal.
Let the world take heed: Sudan’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Its legitimacy is not for sale. And its identity will not be hijacked by those who mistake bullets for ballots and propaganda for power.
With unwavering commitment to justice and truth,
Berhane Taklu-Nagga
Alammuna | Harvard Law School, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, at Tufts University,
Boston University | Mohamed V University Law School, Rabat, Morocco | Northeastern University