South Sudan, located in northeast Africa, has seen the number of slayings of journalists jump since the start of the South Sudanese Civil War in 2013. The number of journalists killed in 2015 jumped to seven, the most in a single year in South Sudan's history. [1] [2] After President Salva Kiir made threatening comments about journalists, journalist Peter Julius Moi was killed, and press freedom groups responded critically to his statements. Reporters Without Borders, a group that monitors the safety and rights of journalists worldwide, ranked South Sudan as 125th for press freedom out of a possible 180 nations. [1] No one has been charged with any of the killings.
Date | Name | Employer | Location (All South Sudan) | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 July 2016 | John Gatluak Manguet | The Radio Community Internews South Sudan | Juba | Journalist killed by government forces in Terrain Hotel during the outbreak of violence in Juba between forces loyal to former First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and forces Loyal to President Salva Kiir. | [3] |
19 August 2015 | Peter Julius Moi | South Sudan Corporate Weekly | Juba | Journalist killed days after president Salva Kiir threatened journalists in South Sudan | [1] [4] [5] |
20 May 2015 | Pow James Raeth | Radio Tamazuj | Akobo | Journalist caught in gunfire between warring groups after leaving a NGO | [6] [7] [8] |
25 January 2015 | Musa Mohammed | South Sudan Radio Wau | Western Bahr el Ghazal | One of five journalists killed in by gunman in a single attack | [9] [10] [11] |
25 January 2015 | Boutros Martin | South Sudan Television | Western Bahr el Ghazal | One of five journalists killed in by gunman in a single attack | [9] [10] [11] |
25 January 2015 | Dalia Marko | Raja Radio Station | Western Bahr el Ghazal | One of five journalists killed in by gunman in a single attack | [9] [10] [11] |
25 January 2015 | Randa George | Raja Radio Station | Western Bahr el Ghazal | One of five journalists killed in by gunman in a single attack | [9] [10] [11] |
25 January 2015 | Adam Juma | Raja Radio Station | Western Bahr el Ghazal | One of five journalists killed in by gunman in a single attack | [9] [10] [11] |
5 December 2012 | Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awuol | Sudan Tribune | Gudele | Former major in the Sudan People's Liberation Army turned journalist who was murdered in front of his home | [12] [13] [14] |
The killings of journalists in the world's youngest nation escalated after the start of the civil war in 2013. The civil war broke out after President Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar began a power struggle that resulted in a division within the military based on ethnicity. [15]
The mass murder of journalists Musa Mohammed, Boutros Martin, Dalia Marko, Randa George, and Adam Juma along with local officials who were traveling with them took place in a single, violent attack on 25 January 2015. [16] The journalists were traveling through the Western Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan when their convoy was assaulted by unknown gunmen. Six others were killed in the attack. [16]
The death of reporter Power James Raeth happened under similar circumstances as he was caught in the crossfire between two rival groups in the city of Akobo. The groups were listed as rival factions however suspicion of government intervention still hangs heavily over the entire case. A university student was also killed in the same attack. [6] [7]
The most suspicious case was that of Peter Julius Moi who was killed only days after South Sudan president Salva Kiir made an intimidating statement directed at journalists. He was quoted as saying "If anybody among them (journalists) does not know that this country has killed people, we will demonstrate it one day, one time." The killing of Mr. Moi occurred shortly afterward. [1] Oliver Modi, who currently serves as chairman of the Union of Journalists of South Africa, was quoted as saying "This was an intentional killing" which has only added speculation to the case. [1]
“I condemn the assassination of Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awol and call on the South Sudan authorities to respect the fundamental right of freedom of expression which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Bringing the murderers of Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awol to justice is an essential step in the young country’s construction as a lawful democracy.” - Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO [17]
In its reaction, UNESCO noted that two out of the five journalists killed on 25 January 2015 in Western Bahr el Ghazal State of South Sudan were women.
"These deaths are a blow to freedom of information and freedom of expression and I call on the authorities to do all in their power to ensure that these essential rights are protected and that journalists can carry out their work in safe conditions." - Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO [1] [6] [16]
"“We condemn the senseless killing of Pow James Raeth, somebody who was working for peace and for educating and informing the public." - Hildebrand Bijleveld, director of Radio Tamazuj where Raeth was a freelancer. [7]
"We condemn the senseless killing of Peter Julius Moi in what has become a deadly year for journalists in South Sudan. More and more independent voices are being silenced in South Sudan at this critical time in the country's history, when the public desperately needs impartial information."- Tom Rhodes, CPJ's East Africa representative [18]
"Today it is Peter, tomorrow is someone else. We are being taken one by one." - Oliver Modi, chairman of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan [19]
"I got personally shocked and am still struggling to recover from the trauma of seeing his dead body lying on the dirt that fateful day. I am not sure how many journalists will go into hiding since this incident, but for now the work spirit among journalists is that of a scared, disillusioned press." - a friend and colleague of Moi's told CPJ. [20]
The killings of seven journalists within the span of a year has spurred some media outlets to stop reporting on government actions and has caused others to go so far as to stop reporting entirely. Nhial Bol Aken, editor and chief of the independent "The Citizen newspaper" has quit journalism citing threats from the government and safety concerns. A nationwide, self-imposed media blackout also took place after the killing of Peter Moi that lasted from 8/21/15 through 11AM on 8/22/15.
Lakes State is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 43,595.08 km2. Rumbek is the capital of the state. Lakes is in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan, in addition to Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap states. Bahr el Ghazal itself was a former province which was split from the Anglo-Egyptian mudiriyat, or province of Equatoria in 1948. The eastern border was the White Nile with Jonglei State on the opposite bank. To the northeast lied the Unity State. Other borders included Warrap State towards the northwest, Western Equatoria to the south and west, and Central Equatoria to the south.
Western Bahr el Ghazal is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 93,900 km2 (36,255 sq mi) and is the least populous state in South Sudan, according to the controversial Sudanese census conducted in 2008. It is part of the Bahr el Ghazal region. Its capital is Wau. The state shared international borders with Sudan to the north and the Central African Republic to the west. The portion now occupied by Raga County is the southern part of the historical region known as "Dar Fertit".
Northern Bahr el Ghazal is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 30,543 km² and is part of the Bahr el Ghazal region. It borders East Darfur in Sudan to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warrap and the disputed region of Abyei to the east. Aweil is the capital of the state.
Salva Kiir Mayardit, also known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has been the President of South Sudan since its independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, he was the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in 2005, following the death of John Garang.
The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 1983 and was a key participant of the Second Sudanese Civil War, led by John Garang. After Garang's death in 2005, Salva Kiir was named the SPLA's new Commander-in-Chief. As of 2010, the SPLA was divided into divisions of 10,000–14,000 soldiers.
The States of South Sudan were created out of the three historic former provinces of Bahr el Ghazal (northwest), Equatoria (southern), and Greater Upper Nile (northeast). The states are further divided into 79 counties.
Southern Sudan was an autonomous region consisting of the ten southern states of Sudan between its formation in July 2005 and independence as the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011. The autonomous government was initially established in Rumbek and later moved to Juba. It was bordered by Ethiopia to the east; Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south; and the Central African Republic to the west. To the north lies the predominantly Arab and Muslim region directly under the control of the central government. The region's autonomous status was a condition of a peace agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) and the Government of Sudan represented by the National Congress Party ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was Africa's longest running civil war.
South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya. Its population was estimated at 11,088,796 in 2023. Juba is the capital and largest city.
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The Lol State was a state of South Sudan with the capital in Raga, that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region, which is in the northwest section of the country. Lol state bordered Haut-Mbomou and Haute-Kotto in the Central African Republic to the west, South Darfur and East Darfur in Sudan to the north, the disputed region of Kafia Kingi to the northwest, Aweil East State to the northeast, Aweil State to the east, Gbudwe State to the south, and Wau State to the southeast. The state was created alongside 27 other states after a decree issuing the creation of 28 states took place. It was dissolved at the conclusion of the South Sudanese Civil War.
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