UNESCO Country Representative Mr. Julius Banda addressing the two-day workshop in Juba. |Courtesy: AMDISS|.
The UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr. Julius Banda, advised the radio managers and editors to use their media influence to build peace and unity in the country, citing that the nation needs peace most to accelerate development and ease service delivery.
Addressing a two-day workshop organised by the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) with support from the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at Aron International Hotel in Juba on Tuesday, Mr. Banda emphasized that it is important for community radio stations to be sustainable to continue delivering the much-needed information services to the people of South Sudan.
The two-day workshop brought together 40 station managers, editors, and programme managers from across the Upper Nile and Equatoria regions, devised to increase media sustainability, enhance their management skills, conflict resolution, counter hate speech, increase gender-responsive reporting, and promote ethical reporting amid the growing subnational violence in the two regions.
“South Sudan has been going through subnational violence, and you are in a better position to address the drivers of violence through the media. You hold a very important position in society as a media manager. You can help in consolidating peace and nation-building by tuning your programming based on the needs of your people who are your audience,” Banda said in his opening statement.
As the government extended the transitional period and postponed the elections to 2026, Julius Banda called on the station managers and editors to address the issue of misinformation and avoid dwelling on rumors that could cause social disorder in the country.
“Make sure that you address the issues of misinformation during the elections. You should help the citizens to make the right decision based on verified information. It is a very important role you have to play in your various radio stations,” Banda stated.
He said as security stabilizes in parts of the country, the media managers and editors should work toward countering the hate speech and also scrutinize their programming and news bulletins before they are aired to continue maintaining tranquility in their localities.
Mr. Banda acknowledged the importance of promoting the freedom of expression as a direct driver of development, stressing the need to support radio stations across the country to continue relaying information to the public.
“Look at yourself as a driver for development; that is the type of impact we would like to see. When your radio station is on air, then you’re contributing to nation-building. This is a very important thing you have to embrace,” he concluded.
The Director of AMDISS, Ayaa Irene Lokang, appealed to radio managers and editors to amplify the issues affecting the people amid the devastating floods and rampant subnational violence in parts of the Upper Nile and Equatoria regions.
She encouraged the participants to make proper use of the opportunity to learn new skills to improve their working environment and navigate the rising challenges triggered by the security situation and economic meltdown in the country.
“Do your work as gatekeeper,” Ayaa appealed. “Make sure that the information getting out is properly scrutinized so as not to fuel conflict in society. Learn to apply the knowledge to create social change in the community.”
In South Sudan, radio is the most largely consumed and trusted media and the majority of the population depends on it for information, however, the country ranked high among countries with a harsh environment for journalists and curtailed freedom of expression and free press.
The country’s authorities, mainly the National Security Service, employed a heavy-handed approach and violent tactics, including arrests, torture, and punitive laws, similar to the previous Khartoum regimes, which used to censor journalists and suppress freedom of expression.
