The death on Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, has left a void in the Sudanese journalism community with the passing of the renowned Sudanese journalist Mahjoub Mohamed Saleh, described as the dean of Sudanese journalists, at the age of 96.
The late Saleh was born in 1928 in Khartoum, where he completed his primary and subsequent education, graduating from Gordon Memorial High School, which later became the University of Khartoum.
Journalist Mohamed Saleh began his journalistic career in 1949, and in 1953, he co-founded the newspaper “Al-Ayyam” alongside journalists Bashir Mohamed Saeed and Mahjoub Othman. The first issue of “Al-Ayyam” was published on October 3rd of the same year, where he held various editorial positions. He also founded the English-language newspaper “Sudan Times” in partnership with the South Sudanese writer and politician Bona Malwal.
Saleh joined the Sudanese nationalist movement “Bahdisto” at the end of 1946, engaging in political activities against the British administration. “Bahdisto” later transformed into an anti-colonial front and then into the Sudanese Communist Party. In 1947, he joined the Faculty of Arts and in 1948 was elected as the deputy secretary of the University College Students Union, becoming the secretary in 1949. His leadership led to a student strike resulting in Saleh and his leftist colleagues Mustafa El Sayed and Taher Abdul Bassit being expelled from the college, as reported by the Sudanese journalist and writer Sadiq Mahdi in an article titled “Farewell to the Last Pyramids of Journalism.”
Describing his early days in journalism, Saleh emphasized the importance of fieldwork for journalists and highlighted the difference between personal interviews and investigative journalism. Recognized for his leadership positions in the Arab Journalists Union and the African Journalists Union, Saleh was awarded the Golden Pen Award by the International Journalism Foundation and the Human Rights Award by the European Union. He was known for his interest in the South Sudan issue, democracy, human rights, and advancing the profession of journalism.
Saleh authored several books, among them “Insights into the Southern Sudan Issue,” “The Future of Democracy in Sudan,” and “Sudanese Journalism in Half a Century.” He was elected as a deputy in the Sudanese parliament in 1965 during the democratic rule following the Sudanese October Revolution, which overthrew the regime of General Ibrahim Abboud.
President of the Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan eulogized Saleh as a symbol of Sudanese journalism and a patriotic writer dedicated to serving national causes, expressing condolences to the Sudanese people, his family, colleagues, and students. Al-Burhan praised Saleh for his profound impact on Sudanese journalism, deepening its connection with the public opinion.
Omar Al-Digair, President of the Sudanese Congress Party, acknowledged Saleh’s national and enlightening duty throughout his life and his unwavering commitment to this cause since his student days at the University of Khartoum.
Remembered for his famous column “Voices and Echoes,” Saleh excelled in high-level journalism, focusing on objectivity, sound reasoning, and investigating the roots and challenges without being swayed by events, sensationalism, or superficial commentary.
The Sudanese journalism community bid farewell to a pioneer, the teacher, and the diligent counselor, leaving a legacy that reverberates through the history of journalism, culture, and media.
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