The Ministry of Information () in Sudan, previously known as the Ministry of Culture and Information (), is a governmental organisation that oversees the management and distribution of information related to the nation's affairs. The structure of this ministry has seen numerous alterations over time.
History The media landscape in Sudan began in 1930 with the establishment of the first press and publications law, marking the initiation of media activities under the Public Liaison Office of the Sudanese Government. This period also saw the introduction of touring cinema. Significant developments continued with the establishment of Radio Hona Omdurman in April 1940, shortly after the end of the World War II, and the creation of a Photography Department, followed by a Film Production Department within the Public Liaison Office. The media in Sudan has been deeply intertwined with the country's struggle for national liberation and identity since its inception.
Post-independence, the media sector was incorporated into the national ministry framework, reflecting its importance in the newly independent nation. In 1954, during the transitional period to self-rule, the Ministry of Social Affairs was created from the Liaison Office, with Yahya Al-Fadhli becoming the first minister in this role.
Significant milestones include partnerships with foreign entities like the McCorquodale Printing Press in 1955, and leadership changes that saw figures like Ziadeh Othman Arbab and Muhammad Ahmed Abu Sun guide the ministry through periods of political transition. The ministry evolved through various name changes and expansions in its scope, including the significant addition of the Television Administration in 1962 and the establishment of the National Theatre.
The media's governance structure underwent several transformations, reflecting the political shifts within Sudan, from the Ministry of Information and Labour (1964) to the Ministry of National Guidance, and eventually to the Ministry of Culture and Information. These changes encompassed the establishment of new departments and initiatives aimed at enriching the cultural and informational landscape of the country, including the National Council for Arts and Letters and various media training institutes.
Throughout the years, the ministry has overseen the creation of regional radio stations, the launch of National Unity Radio, and the establishment of departments focused on children's culture and media professional training. Leadership transitions have often coincided with broader political changes, influencing the ministry's direction and priorities. The era of national salvation (1989 to 2019) introduced further reorganisations and the establishment of additional regional radio stations, continuing the expansion and diversification of Sudan's media infrastructure.
Vision According to the ministry, the ministry's vision is to build an efficient, free, and capable information system. Its mission encompasses expressing the diversity of Sudan to reinforce national unity, establishing the concept of identity and belonging, deepening religious values, showcasing the positive image of Sudan externally, and advancing the information system. The ministry aims to develop a robust information infrastructure, establish a partnership between the state and the private sector in terms of information instruments, ensure all of Sudan is covered with information, and provide citizens with information.
Ministers #OfficeholderTerm start dateTime in officeMinistry name1Yahya Al-Fadhli10 April 1954 yearsMinistry of Social Affairs2Ziadeh Othman Arbab2 February 1956 years3Muhammad Ahmed AbusenJuly 1956 years -Vacant17 November 19584Muhammad Talaat Farid1959 yearsMinistry of Information and Labour5Muhammad Nasr Othman1962 years6Khalaf Allah BabakirOctober 1964 years7Saleh Mahmoud IsmailFebruary 1965 yearsMinistry of Information and Social Affairs8Abdul Rahman Al-NourJune 1965 years9Daoud Abdel Latif Ibrahim1966 years10Ahmed Abdul Rahman al-Mahdi30 July 1966 years11Al-Sadiq al-Siddiq al-Mahdi1967 years12Abdel Majid Abu HasboMay 1967 years13Mahjoub Othman25 May 1969 yearsMinistry of National Guidance14Omar Haj Musa28 October 1969 years24 January 1970Ministry of Information and National Guidance9 May 1973Ministry for Culture and Information15Bona Malwal10 November 1976 years1629 July 1978 years17Ismail Haj Musa17 August 1979 years18Ahmed Abdulrahman1981 years19Muhammad Othman Abu Saq1 December 1982 yearsMinistry of Guidance and National Information20Muhammad Khojali SalihinJune 1983 yearsMinistry of Culture and Information21Muhammad Bashir HamedApril 1985 years22Mohammed Tawfik5 May 1986 years23Maamoun Mahjoub SinadaJune 1987 years24Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed16 May 1988 years25Suleiman Abu Saleh26 March 1989 years(16)9 July 1989 years(20)Muhammad Khojali SalihinApril 1990 years(24)Abdullah Mohammed AhmedJanuary 1991 years2630 October 1993 years27Al-Tayeb Ibrahim Muhammad Khair5 June 1996 years28Ghazi Salah al-Din al-AtabaniMarch 1998 years29Mahdi Ibrahim Mohammed2001 yearsMinistry of Information and Communication30Alzahawi Ibrahim Malik2002 yearsMinistry of Culture and Information -UnknownJune 2004 years(30)Alzahawi Ibrahim Malik2005 years31Kamal Mohamed Obeid2007 years -Unknown(31)Kamal Mohamed ObeidJune 2010 years32Ahmed Bilal Osman8 June 201233Al-Tayib Hassan Badawi2014 years34Omar Suliman2018 years35Rawda al-Haj2019 years36Faisal Mohammed Saleh5 September 2019 yearsMinistry of Information37Hamza Baloul9 February 2021 yearsMinistry of Information, Culture, and Tourism38Graham Abdelkader25 October 2021 yearsMinistry of Information39Khaled Al-Aiser3 November 2024 yearsMinistry of Culture and Information
See also Cabinet of Sudan National Council for Press and Publication (Sudan)
References