Sudan’s government said the decision had nothing to do with the content of BBC Arabic’s news coverage, but rather stemmed from two incidents that Sudan said broke the broadcaster’s 1999 deal with Khartoum.

In a statement released Monday, the government alleged that a BBC crew smuggled satellite equipment for live transmission into Sudan in a diplomatic pouch and began working in south Sudan without government approval — both in violation of the agreement.

BBC Arabic radio on FM frequencies were no longer available in the north on Monday. The government said it could review its position on the suspension if the BBC abides by the deal, but did not elaborate.

The BBC World Service confirmed that its Arabic service on FM radio in Sudan had been discontinued, and said it was in talks with Khartoum aimed at resuming the broadcasts.

“We are very disappointed that the Sudanese people in northern Sudan are no longer able to access the impartial news and current affairs of BBC Arabic on FM radio,” BBC Head of Africa Jerry Timmins said. “We hope that we will be able to continue broadcasting at some point.” Timmins said that BBC Arabic is still available in northern Sudan via its website, shortwave and satellite networks.

Sudan granted BBC Arabic radio permission to broadcast in four northern towns — Khartoum, Port Sudan, Madani and el-Obeid —in 1999.

While both Sudan and the BBC appeared open to resolving the broadcasts’ suspension, rights groups say Sudan’s government has been clamping down on freedom of expression in the country, particularly since April elections that saw President Omar Bashir easily win another five-year term.

Under Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur, Sudanese authorities have cracked down on local media, jailing journalists and shuttering newspapers critical of his regime.