The director of South Sudan state television (SSBC), Adil Faris Mayat has been released by security officials this evening after spending more than a week in detention centres of South Sudan government's spy agency known as National Security Services (NSS) in Jebel area.

Mayat was detained on July 10 after he failed to broadcast President Salva Kiir’s speech live during the sixth Independence Day anniversary on July 9.

His wife confirmed to Radio Tamazuj this evening that her husband has been released by the country’s security authorities. "Adil has been released and he is in good health condition,” she said.

The release comes after appeals made by several national and international rights groups.

Last month, at least 20 foreign journalists had been denied entry by authorities. The world’s youngest nation is ranked 145th of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index.