Exposed: The reporter leading Sky News Arabia's cover-up of Sudan atrocities

Key Concepts

• Sky News Arabia: A sister channel of Sky News, accused of biased reporting and downplaying atrocities in Sudan.
• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan accused of war crimes and killing thousands of civilians.
• Tsabih Mubarak Khatir: A reporter for Sky News Arabia covering events in El Fasher, Sudan, whose reporting is criticized for bias.
• Shiraz Khalid: An RSF commander filmed calling for rape during an offensive in northern Sudan.
• Ibrahim Al-Mirghani: A Sudanese politician married to Tsabih Mubarak Khatir, who sides with the RSF.
• El Fasher: A city in Sudan where significant events and alleged atrocities have occurred.
• Misinformation/Disinformation: The deliberate spread of false or misleading information.
• Whitewashing: Attempting to conceal or gloss over wrongdoing.
• Obfuscation: The act of making something unclear, obscure, or unintelligible.
• IMI (International Media Investments): A company controlled by UAE vice-president Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a 50% partner in Sky News Arabia.

Allegations of Bias and Whitewashing by Sky News Arabia in Sudan Coverage

This report details accusations that Sky News Arabia, a licensed arm of the mainstream media outlet Sky News, is jeopardizing its parent company's reputation through biased reporting and misleading broadcasts concerning the conflict in Sudan. Specifically, the channel is accused of "whitewashing" atrocities committed by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Reporter Tsabih Mubarak Khatir's Reporting

• On-the-ground Coverage: Tsabih Mubarak Khatir, a reporter for Sky News Arabia, was present in El Fasher, Sudan, covering the conflict.
• Portrayal of RSF Arrival: Khatir's reporting is criticized for presenting the arrival of the RSF militia as an opportunity to provide aid to civilians, while casting doubt on widespread evidence of atrocities.
• Interaction with RSF Commander: A video shows Khatir with RSF commander Shiraz Khalid, where she states, "We are with you." This is particularly concerning as Khalid was previously filmed inciting his troops to rape women during an offensive in northern Sudan, with the stated aim to "Cleanse their lineage."
• Reporter's Personal Connections: Tsabih Mubarak Khatir has worked for Sky News Arabia since May 2022. Her husband, Ibrahim Al-Mirghani, is a Sudanese politician who supports the RSF and is part of their unrecognised parallel government. Al-Mirghani has publicly praised Khatir for combating "online misinformation."

Broader Patterns of Bias in Sky News Arabia's Reporting

Concerns about biased coverage are not limited to a single reporter but extend to several alleged attempts to minimize and obscure the RSF's role in atrocities.

• Debunking False Satellite Imagery: An article by Sky News Arabia debunks a viral satellite image falsely presented as evidence of a massacre in El Fasher. The image was actually of livestock at a watering hole in a different region.
• Pro-RSF Bias in Article: While the debunking of the false image is factual, a deeper analysis of the Sky News Arabia article reveals a pro-RSF bias.
  • Misattribution of Misinformation: The article suggests the Sudanese army, the RSF's opponents, created misinformation like the livestock imagery to mislead the world about killings in El Fasher.
  • Selective Use of Western Sources: The article quotes European investigations that acknowledge the misleading nature of the livestock image. However, it ignores extensive reports from these same Western sources that verify the existence of mass graves.
  • Casting Doubt on Verified Evidence: Under the headline "What really happened in El Fasher?", the article casts doubt on other verified sources of evidence. By stating that fabricated material appeared immediately after the fall of El Fasher, it implies that verified imagery seen by viewers at the time was false.
  • Questioning Verified Satellite Images: The report aims to make viewers question verified satellite images showing bodies and blood on the sand outside El Fasher, suggesting they might be part of a Sudanese Army propaganda campaign against the RSF. The report asserts these images are indeed real.
• Downplaying Atrocities: While Sky News Arabia has published some articles on atrocities in El Fasher, these are significantly shorter and less prominent than their reports casting doubt on events. A search for "Sudan" on the channel yields minimal coverage of the atrocities in El Fasher. Even before the fall of El Fasher, the channel is accused of downplaying the RSF's involvement in alleged atrocities.

Ownership and Response

• Joint Venture: Sky News Arabia is a 50-50 joint venture between Sky and IMI (International Media Investments).
• IMI's Control: IMI is controlled by UAE vice-president Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• Sky News Arabia's Rejection: Sky News Arabia has rejected the allegations, calling them "outrageous and unfounded." A spokesman stated the channel has "addressed crimes committed by both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces."
• Response to Khatir's Interaction: Regarding Tsabih Mubarak Khatir's interaction with the RSF commander, a spokesman stated the matter was addressed internally and that portraying a brief encounter as evidence of systemic editorial alignment is a "gross distortion."
• IMI's Stake in The Telegraph: IMI is currently seeking Parliamentary approval to acquire a 15% stake in The Telegraph.

Conclusion

The report argues that Sky News Arabia's coverage of the Sudan conflict, particularly concerning the RSF and events in El Fasher, exhibits a pattern of bias and obfuscation. This alleged "whitewashing" of atrocities, exemplified by the reporting of Tsabih Mubarak Khatir and the framing of articles, risks undermining the credibility of its parent company, Sky News. The ownership structure, with IMI's significant influence, is presented as a potential factor in this biased reporting.