South Sudan

Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awuol, a journalist who was critical of the South Sudanese authorities and had received threats, was shot dead in the capital, Juba.

If the flow of information in Sudan is ever to be free, Khartoum will need to change the way it treats the media, according to a report by journalist Abdelgadir Mohammed Abdelgadir.

The draft Broadcasting Corporation Bill fails to guarantee the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation’s independence from the executive branch, says Article 19.

While the draft bill positively enshrines a number of progressive principles on the right of access to information, areas of concern remain, says ARTICLE 19.

ARTICLE 19 is pleased the bill intends to respect international standards for freedom of expression, but points out that improvements are still needed to safeguard the media’s independence.

On the first anniversary of its independence, South Sudan should address impunity, release unlawfully detained prisoners and guarantee freedom of speech, says a new report by Human Rights Watch.

There has been a disturbing accumulation of incidents and isolated acts of repression or intimidation that end up undermining the climate in which journalists and media operate, RSF said.

The newspaper had only published four issues prior to its closure.

Journalists routinely face harassment, intimidation and violence for pursuing stories that tackle everything from corruption to security concerns.

For reporting on corruption charges, two independent newspapers, The Citizen and Al Masir, were ordered by a court in the capital, Juba, to pay 100,000 South Sudanese pounds (US$37,000) each in damages.

Bakhita Radio journalist Mading Ngor was removed the country’s National Assembly while covering a session and later allegedly assaulted by security guards, according to news reports.

Dengdit Ayok, the deputy editor of “Destiny” newspaper, received a death threat via email after publishing an article that was critical of the country’s president.

The arrests were prompted by an article by Dengdit Ayok criticising President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to which the Information Ministry had reacted by suspending the newspaper.