Fractured lenses: A framing analysis of Sudan’s civil war in Pan-Arab media

This study examines how three major pan-Arab media outlets—Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Arabiya, and Sky News Arabia—framed the Sudan War during its first year (April 15, 2023–April 15, 2024). Using an inductive research design, the study draws on a quantitative content analysis of 300 news articles collected through an archival search of the outlets’ official websites. The analysis focuses on identifying dominant news frames, sourcing patterns, and tone toward the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Rather than testing predetermined hypotheses, the study seeks to determine how framing strategies emerge across the three outlets. The findings reveal clear variations in framing, particularly in source selection and the emphasis on conflict, responsibility, and geopolitical narratives. The study contributes to the limited literature on Arab media coverage of African conflicts and highlights how online news platforms shape representations of contemporary conflicts.