Roundup: S. Sudanese journalists call for protection, free media

South Sudan's journalists on Wednesday marked the World Press Freedom Day with calls for respect of press freedom and protection of journalists in the war-torn East African nation.

Edward Ladu Terso, General Secretary of the South Sudan Union of Journalists (UJOSS), said though there has been slight improvement in the media environment, media practitioners in the country still face significant challenges ranging from closure of media houses by security operatives, harassment to underpayment.

Terso said since South Sudan's independence in 2011, at least 11 journalists have been killed, dozens detained without charges and many others forced to flee.

"The media regulator body has tried to improve the situation this year but we still need more to happen to ensure that freedom of expression is respected in the country," Terso said.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), a body tasked with monitoring South Sudan's 2015 peace agreement, said in a statement Wednesday that freedom of the press is critical in building peace and the promotion of national cohesion in the war-ravaged country.

JMEC Deputy Chairperson Augostino Njoroge said free, objective and neutral media can help promote peace, enhance national dialogue and counter hate speech that would otherwise tear the fragile country apart and plunge it into further conflict.

He said journalists in the country face threats of character assassination, sexual and physical assault, arrests and even death while performing their day-to-day duties.

The peace monitor further called on the South Sudanese government, state agencies as well other important non-state actors to help promote and protect free media.

"The media in South Sudan, like it is globally, can offer a platform for various voices that seek to promote tolerance, dialogue, cohesion and compromise. This will ensure an all-inclusive national healing and dialogue and also shape the development agenda of the country," Njoroge said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked South Sudan 140th in its World Press Freedom Index, adding at least eight journalists were killed in the past five years and tens of others detained or fled the country.

Lydia Gachungi, Regional Communication Expert for UNESCO in Eastern Africa, said the South Sudan government must strengthen efforts to protect journalists and create conducive environment for freedom expression to prevail.

Elijah Alier, Managing Director of South Sudan Media Authority, acknowledged that the media industry in the country suffered years of crackdown, intimidation and threats from security operatives who do not understand the role of journalist.

He pledged that the media regulatory body would take full control of matters concerning the media industry and the security forces would be barred from arbitrary arresting and detaining journalists. Endit