UK denies visa to award-winning Sudanese journalist

Mohammed Amin, a freelance correspondent for Middle East Eye, has been awarded the prestigious One World Media Journalist of the Year award for his reporting from Sudan. However, Amin was unable to attend the awards ceremony in London as the UK Home Office refused to grant him a visa.

Accepting the award via video link, Amin stated that the Home Office's reason for refusal was that he might not leave the country, implying he might seek asylum. He asserted that Sudanese people are not a burden and are equal partners in humanity. Amin highlighted the resilience of the Sudanese people, referencing the defense of al-Tekeina village against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of genocide.

Amin described Sudan as a "wounded and traumatised country" and characterized the war as a conflict between fascism and the Sudanese people. He called for media from the Global South to unite and create independent news platforms. The Home Office informed Amin that he did not have a genuine reason for visiting the UK and would not depart afterwards, despite being sponsored by Middle East Eye and having an invitation from the award organizers. There is no right of appeal against such refusals.

This contrasts with Amin's previous visit in November 2022, when he attended the Rory Peck Awards in London and won the Martin Adler Prize for his reporting on Sudanese events. On that occasion, the then-Conservative government issued him a visa without hesitation. Applicants from Sudan have faced increased scrutiny since the war began in April 2023, with a visa brake introduced in March 2026 impacting applications from Sudan and other countries.

Chinwe Kalu-Uma, interim director of One World Media, expressed deep disappointment, noting that Amin's absence itself tells a story about the barriers Sudanese people face. Amin's reporting has focused on the conflict's aftermath, including the siege of el-Fasher, the role of captagon, and attacks on communities. His report on al-Tekeina's resistance went viral and prompted a visit from the Sudanese prime minister.

The One World Media judges praised Amin's work for providing essential insight into an ignored conflict, centering community voices, and revealing the human reality and wider implications of the war. David Hearst, editor-in-chief of MEE, commended Amin's courage, precision, and commitment to documenting the war's brutality and the resilience of Sudanese civilians, ensuring their story reached a global audience.