THE HAGUE – An emotion-charged photo of a young man illuminated by cellphone lights as he recites poetry amid a crowd of protesters calling for civilian rule in Sudan won the prestigious World Press Photo award on Thursday.
The image, titled “Straight Voice,” was captured by Japanese photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba, in Khartoum on June 19 last year.
Chiba is Chief Photographer for East Africa and Indian Ocean for French news agency Agence France-Presse. The photo also won first prize in the General News Singles category.
The protesters were calling for a return to civilian rule in Sudan after the military toppled long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in April. “This moment was the only peaceful group protest I encountered during my stay,” Chiba