Maura Ajak

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Maura Metbeni Paul Ajak (born 1989) is an investigative South Sudanese journalist, broadcaster and camerawoman.

Contents

Maura Ajak
Born
Maura Metbeni Paul Ajak

1989 (age 35–36)
Wau, South Sudan
Nationality South Sudanese
Alma mater University of Juba
OccupationJournalist
Years active2014–present

She started being a journalist in 2014 when she joined the Catholic Radio Network. [1] Born and raised in South Sudan, a country recovering from years of devastations caused by civil wars [2] and ranked 144th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index (ref:2018), Ajak is internationally known for her courageous freelance investigative stories uncovering human rights violations, corruption [3] and the environmental impacts [4] of climate change and the conducts of oil companies in the country which sees ordinary people finding themselves drinking water mixed with oil. [1] [5] [ better source needed ] In May 2017, her employer, the Catholic Radio Network, scooped an anti- corruption award and Ajak was awarded a certificate of recognition at the event as one of the two best journalists holding the South Sudanese government accountable [6] [ better source needed ]

In September 2018, several soldiers belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) were sentenced for rape and murder by the country's military court after Ajak exposed them. [7] The court ordered the South Sudanese government to pay each of the rape victims - some of whom were as young as 11-years of age - an amount of $4,000. [8]

Achievements and Awards

Leadership and Roles

Coverage Examples

Challenges Faced

In 2018, while covering the detention of an Al Jazeera reporter, Maura and colleagues were threatened and had equipment confiscated by security agents in parliament. [13] South Sudan ranked 144th out of 180 on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index during her early career storage. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 About Maura Ajak, International Women's Media Foundation. Retrieved 23 January 2025
  2. ↑ Instability in South Sudan, Center for Preventative Action, article updated on 9 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025
  3. ↑ Being a journalist in South Sudan: Practitioners recount experiences covering political, corruption and human rights stories, Al Jazeera, 18 December 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2025
  4. ↑ South Sudan's environmental hazards, VOA, 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025
  5. ↑ Maura Ajak & Stephanie Stafford: "Dying of thirst" as climate-driven floods mix with oil, BBC Africa Eye. Retrieved 15 January 2025
  6. ↑ Catholic Radio Network receives anti-corruption champion award, Catholic Radio Network, 3 May 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2025
  7. ↑ How journalists for human rights helped a Sudanese reporter tell a disturbing story, Global News. Retrieved 15 January 2025
  8. ↑ South Sudanese soldiers jailed for rape and murder, BBC, 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2025
  9. ↑ "Maura Ajak - IWMF". www.iwmf.org. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Maura Ajak - IWMF". www.iwmf.org. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Climate change: Floods 'spreading oil pollution' in South Sudan". www.bbc.com. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 "MAURA AJAK". The Seattle Times. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Vice tightens on South Sudan's journalists | RSF". rsf.org. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  14. ↑ Mickute, Viktorija. "Being a journalist in South Sudan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 June 2025.


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