The union leaders received a phone call from a committee that was said to be concerned with limiting and receiving the assets of professional associations and trade-unions, and that they will come to hand over   the headquarters and assets of the SJU at ten in the morning today, Sunday.  However, the chief and members of the executive office came early and decided not to hand over the headquarters and assets except to an executive office elected by the General Assembly of the SJU, Sudan Journalists Union said in a statement.


"As we disseminate this information for our press base and Sudanese public opinion, we renew the position of the SJU that refuses to hand over its headquarters and assets except to an elected body from its general assembly who has absolute authority over the SJU, and we affirm our continued rejection to the decision to dissolve the SJU by all legal and peaceful means and we highly value the solidarity positions that we received from the (IFJ), the Arab Journalists Union, FAJ , EAJA  plus federations and trade-unions from some countries in Asia, Europe and Africa.” Sudan Journalists Union (SJU), which was founded in 1946 said.

However, the move was widely condemned by regional and international press freedom groups and have shown solidarity with SJU. Among them International Federation of Journalists and its Africa affiliates. Last week members from Eastern African Journalists Associations sent a petition calling to the Prime Minister of Sudan Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, who also holds the current IGAD chairmanship to retract his government’s decision to dissolve the trade unions.

«We urge your Government to revoke the decision to dissolve Sudan Union of Journalists and other trade unions, end gross interference in internal affairs of unions and to engage in genuine dialogue with unions about legislative reforms that will ensure the respect of workers’ rights in line with Sudan’s international obligations without further delay. » read the petition which was signed by journalists union in the Eastern Africa region,  « Our unions, collectively or individually, shall continue to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Sudan Union of Journalists and we are committed to Speak Out at continental and international forums. »

On 14 December 2019, the ruling Sovereignty Council issued a degree to dissolve all trade unions and professional associations in Sudan. Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta, member of Sovereignty Council, who heads the Committee of "elimination of empowerment and fighting corruption” which was created by the Sovereignty Council, announced that the Committee decided to seize all properties and assets of all trade unions and establish a committee to revise trade union laws and prepare for new election for leaders of trade unions under these new laws.

Sudan Journalists Union is a member of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), African Federation of Journalists (FAJ) East African Journalists Association (EAJA) and is the vice president of the Federation of Arab Journalists.