South Sudan Commemorate International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. The day is annually celebrated on 2nd November to reflect crimes committed against journalists
This year’s focus is on the violence against journalists, the integrity of elections, and the role of public leadership.
The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) reiterates its call on the transitional government of national unity to launch investigations into the killing of journalists in the country since its independence from Sudan in 2011.
“On the 4th of October this year, AMDISS commended the government for taking a rightful decision to form a committee to investigate the death of journalist Christopher Allen and appealed to the government to expedite the investigation process as well as investigate the killings of all the other journalists in the country and make the findings publicly to serve justice to the families of the victims,” AMDISS stated.
The Media advocacy organization reminds the government of the need for open civic space, protection of journalists, and a safe and conducive environment for the media and its practitioners.
It said this will help to cover the upcoming general elections without censorship, and allow journalists to interact with competing candidates freely, a practice that assures the public the credibility of the general elections.
The Association is alarmed about the issues facing media in South Sudan including harassment, threats, and confiscation of media gadgets among other cases. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of this violence against the media continue to enjoy impunity
AMDISS said the role of the media is crucial to ensure accurate, impartial, balanced, and timely coverage as the country prepares for the general elections in 2024.
“AMDISS urges journalists and media houses to uphold professionalism when doing their work by telling the absolute truth under all circumstances and treating the sources and subjects with the utmost responsibility to consolidate the public trust and confidence in the media.”
According to the report published by the Committee to Protection Journalists (CPJ) at least six journalists have been killed in South Sudan in connection to their work since the country gained independence in 2011.
The country is also the world’s third-worst offender on CPJ’s 2022 Impunity Index, an annual report that spotlights countries with the worst records of securing justice for murdered journalists.