Deputy Secretary of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), Mr. Chuol Jany implored South Sudan’s power-sharing government to refrain from media censorship ahead of the general elections scheduled for December 2024.
Chuol appealed in an advocacy meeting of AMDISS management supported by the IFEX, (Canadian-based organization) with the Government’s Spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, who doubles as the Minister of Infomation, Communication Technology and Postal Service, on Wednesday 28 February in Juba.
He also urged the government to order its National Security agents to vacate the printing facilities, to allow the divergent voices of the citizens to be published freely.
The government deployed security agents to all the printing facilities in the national capital, Juba to remove the news articles and opinions deemed critical before printing and distribution.
Earlier, Minister Michael Makuei defended the government suppression particularly of print media, accusing the journalists of stepping on the government’s toes and invading the privacies of some constitution-post holders, a claim that could not be justified.
Chuol Jany and the minister exchanged views on media freedom, the safety of journalists, and creating a suitable environment for the media to start sensitizing and educating the masses on electoral procedures and how to vote for their preferred candidates carefully.
Chuol pled to the government to remove restrictions imposed by the security apparatus on the media, appealing to the government to instead give a chance for media pluralism, and cooperate with the media to bridge the information gaps in the country.
“In Juba, it is hard for journalists to interview people on the streets,” Chuol asserted. “If you are seen with a camera on the street, you are arrested. This is not good. Just a few weeks ago, a journalist working for CGTN had his documents confiscated simply because he was capturing video footage on the street. This is very wrong,” he lamented.
On her part, AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene appealed to the government to instruct the security agents deployed at the printing facilities to stop media censorship, particularly, the unilateral removal of news articles from the newspapers, saying seeing newspapers with blank spaces tarnishes the image of the country more.
According to Ayaa, the relationship between the security sector and the media is deteriorating causing mistrust and hence, results in intimidation, arrest, and detention of journalists.
She stated that the two sectors should understand their roles and work together for the public interest.
Minister Michael Makuei said the government will organize a workshop that will bring together journalists and the security sector to dialogue and find a way to mend their relationship.
The minister changed his view and acknowledged the positive role of the media but cautioned journalists against publishing negative stories that incite violence and cause divisions in the community.
“Media should be professional. The media should not be used to incite violence. The work of the government is to see that the media is used responsibly and professionally, but if you target an individual’s personality, then you would be taken to the court,” Makuei warned.
According to Reporters without Boarders, the freedom of the press is extremely precarious in South Sudan, where journalists work under constant threat and intimidation, and where censorship is ever-present.
Most of South Sudan’s political leaders apply a great deal of pressure to impose their agenda on the media. National TV and radio suffer greatly from a lack of independence and are threatened and sanctioned if their programmes don’t toe the government line.
In November last year, the government shut down Al-Watan Arabic Newspaper for publishing the presidential letter of condolence extended to the State of Israel on the killing of over a thousand Israelis by Hamas fighters.
The letter was leaked by the Minister of Youth and Sports Albino Dhieu who was later sacked for disclosing South Sudan’s top-secret relation with the State of Israel.
