South Sudan denies gagging press freedom

The managing director for South Sudan Media Authority, Elijah Alier Kuai on Friday dismissed accusation of muzzling press freedom by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

“The sentiments in this Commission’s report are baseless propaganda, a total fabrication of the general situation. The negative narratives of the civic space and media freedom quoted in the report does not accurately confirm with the reality,” Kuai said in a statement issued in Juba.

Last week, the United Nations Human Rights Commission in a report accused the South Sudan government of entrenched suppression of civic space and media freedom.

It also said the national security services are suppressing media freedom by pulling articles in newspapers deemed critical of the government.

“The report lacks credibility of sources, validity of information, concrete evidence, and consultation not genuine and did not give chance for right of reply to concerned entities such as media authority,” Kuai said.

He said the media authority is committed to promoting freedom of expression and pluralistic, independent media in the public interest, adding that freedom of media is protected under article 24 of the transitional constitution of the republic of South Sudan.

“The report did not meet the required evidentiary standards, it was influenced by one sided sources and conflict of interest without cross-checking with the other parties,” Kuai noted.