SOUTH SUDAN: Government Detain Director of Good News Radio

The director of Rumbek Catholic Diocese Radio Station in the country was on Wednesday, July 3, detained by Government authorities over accusation of interviewing the former Governor of Western Lake State.

Marial Deng, the director of the radio was summoned by authorities over the interview with broadcasted on Tuesday, July 2 with the former Governor of Western Lakes State Mr. John Deng Mamer. During the interview the former governor denied receiving any warrant of arrest issued against him by the Government regarding decisions taken while in office.

Marial Deng was detained on Wednesday after a summon by the authorities in Rumbek over accusations of interviewing the former Governor.

Following the detention, the Catholic Radio Network Director Mary Ajith on Thursday July 4 condemned the arrest as well as the demand by the authorities to screen all the radio programmes before going on air. The South Sudan Media Authority also added their voice in condemning the move, saying that it was a violation for everyone to interfere with the freedom of expression and editorial independence of the media organizations in South Sudan.

The management of the Media Authority in their press release further condemned any decision to threaten and suppress freedom of expression and called for immediate release of Marial Deng, who was later released on, Thursday evening.

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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News