Sudan TV headquarters in Port Sudan stormed over alleged ethnic bias

PORT SUDAN – Tensions flared in Sudan’s coastal city of Port Sudan yesterday as a dispute over a presenter’s attire at the state-owned television station sparked protests and accusations of ethnic discrimination.

Zainab Eira, a presenter at Sudan TV, shared her experience on Facebook, alleging that she was reprimanded by the station’s director-general, Ibrahim al-Baz’ei, for wearing a traditional Bajawi dress during a broadcast.

Eira’s account, titled “My Identity is Not a Shame,” ignited social media, with many expressing solidarities and condemning the alleged incident.

The controversy escalated when protesters stormed the Sudan TV headquarters in Port Sudan, the country’s temporary capital, demanding al-Baz’ei’s dismissal.

The Beja Supreme Councils, representing the Beja ethnic group in eastern Sudan, issued an ultimatum to the information minister, calling for al-Baz’ei’s removal within 24 hours.

In response, Sudan TV issued a statement denying the accusations and clarifying that the discussion between Eira and al-Baz’ei occurred months ago.

The statement emphasized that the disagreement centered on the use of the Bajawi language in news greetings rather than Eira’s attire.

Despite the statement, tensions remained high, leading to the temporary closure of Sudan TV’s.

The incident highlights the underlying cultural and identity issues in Sudan, particularly in the eastern region where the Beja community resides.

The dispute has also raised concerns about freedom of expression and the representation of diverse ethnic groups in the media.