A media advocate has warned South Sudan government of letting security organs to take the law into their hands to arrest journalists and restrict people’s rights of expression.
Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) Chairperson Jacob Akol told CRN News that it is regrettable that a country gives security agents what he called a free hand to detain journalists and tell them not to speak on certain issues.He said many African countries including Uganda and Kenya in the past witnessed the same situation of untamed conduct of security personnel.
Mr Akol added the government should not allow such practices to continue otherwise they will even undermine the President of the Republic’s authority.
Mr Akol said the minister for national security at the president’s office should be responsible to arrest any journalist in South Sudan.
He said the minister should be responsible and answer why journalists are continuously harassed by security personnel.
Mr Akol added that if the national security minister is not aware of arrests it means that security agents are taking over the country.