국제앰네스티는 새로 발표한 브리핑자료를 통하여 수단정부가 2011년 남부지방독립에 관한 국민투표에 앞서 기자들에 대한 괴롭힘과 학대를 중단 해야 한다고 밝혔다.
이번 보고서 “남아있는 사슬들: 제한된 표현의 자유”는 수단에서 2010년 4월 선거 이후 언론인들이 자신의 업무로 인해서 자주 구금되고 일부는 고문당하고 정치적 동기가 다분한 혐의로 재판을 받고 있는 등의 수단에서 표현의 자유가 탄압되는 현실을 다루고 있다.
국제앰네스티 라니아 라지(Rania Rajji) 수단 조사관은 “이렇게 표현의 자유가 공공연하게 침해되는 환경에서는 어떠한 믿을만한 선거도 치러질 수 없다”라며 “수단 북부와 남부 정부들은 수단사람들이 투표를 통하여 자유롭게 표현할 수 있는 환경을 만들어야 하며 더 이상의 표현의 자유 제한을 멈춰야 한다”라고 밝혔다.
수단북부지방에서는 정보안전부(NISS)가 언론매체를 엄격히 통제하고 있다. 지난 2010년 5월과 8월 사이에는 정보안전부 요원들이 매일같이 신문 인쇄소를 찾아 민감한 기사들을 삭제하고 있다. 많은 수의 신문사들이 문을 닫아야 했다.
2010년 8월 7일, 발행 전 검열은 중단되었지만 “기자 명예 규정(Code of Journalistic Honour)”은 아직 많은 제약을 부과하고 있다. 2009년 9월에 시행된 이 규정은 기자들이 국익을 보호할 것을 요구하며 이에 따라 신문사들이 자체검열을 실시하도록 하고 있다. 
SUDAN URGED TO END CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BEFORE REFERENDUM
24 September 2010The Sudanese authorities should halt the harassment and intimidation of journalists in the run-up to the referendum on southern independence in January 2011, Amnesty International said in a new briefing released on Friday.
The Chains Remain: Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in Sudan documents a clampdown on freedom of expression in Sudan since the April 2010 elections that has seen journalists regularly detained for carrying out their work while others have been tortured or tried on politically motivated charges.
“No credible poll can be conducted in an environment where freedom of speech is being so openly violated,” said Rania Rajji, Amnesty International’s Sudan researcher.
“The governments of north and south Sudan must ensure the vote is held in an atmosphere where all Sudanese can freely express their views and halt any further restrictions to freedom of expression.”
Throughout northern Sudan, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has placed strict controls on the press. Between May and August 2010 NISS agents visited newspaper print houses on a daily basis removing sensitive articles. A large number of newspapers were also closed down.
Although this pre-print censorship was removed on 7 August, a “code of journalistic honour” still imposes many restrictions. The code, which was introduced by the government in September 2009, requires journalists to “defend the interest of the nation” and in practice forces newspapers to self censor out of fear of reprisal and legal action against them.
In July 2010 the NISS distributed a form to all newspapers requiring journalists to submit personal information including bank details and home addresses.
Following the presidential elections in April 2010, five journalists were arrested because of articles published in the newspaper Rai Al Shaab, including an analysis of the election result.
Two of the men were reportedly tortured while in custody. One journalist was subsequently released but four were taken to court on charges including “propagating false news”. One was acquitted but one was sentenced to five years in prison, the remaining two to two years in prison.
One Khartoum-based journalist working for an opposition newspaper told Amnesty International that it was nearly impossible to publish articles relating to human rights in national newspapers because of this climate of fear.
Websites have also been blocked by government.
The BBC Arabic radio service was suspended on 9 August in four major cities including the capital Khartoum for allegedly having breached its agreement with the government. The service has not yet been reinstated.
In southern Sudan, the press was also curbed during the presidential elections as journalists were harassed for writing articles critical of the government, hosting debates on the election or interviewing independent candidates. Some were detained by the southern Sudanese security forces before being released without charge.
“The forthcoming referendum will bring new challenges and political uncertainty to Sudan. To ensure that human rights are respected, protected and promoted during the referendum, the government must ensure freedom of expression and allow journalists to voice their opinions and engage in debates about the future of the country,” said Rania Rajji.
