A journalist based in Akobo in South Sudan was killed yesterday in an attack by unknown perpetrators. The reporter Pow James Raeth was working as a correspondent for Radio Tamazuj since early April.
He had previously also reported for Radio Miraya and Gurtong.
Radio Tamazuj was informed by local authorities today that Pow (also known as Puok James) was shot dead while walking with a friend in the Akobo area. They were reportedly returning from an office where they could access the internet when they were shot.
The circumstances and cause of the shooting are not yet clear and authorities say they are still investigating. County Commissioner Tut Chol Rial said the shooting of Pow James was “not intentional, it was a crossfire,” while linking the incident to a feud between two clans in the area.
A ‘peace ambassador’ from the area, Gatwech Koak Nyuon, identified the other victim as Yohannes Pal Kuek, a university student. He commented: “It’s not the first time the clans in Akobo have been targeting the intellectuals who are far from the clans’ skirmishes. Civilians used to fight among themselves, but revenged their loved ones by killing an intellectual instead of the killer who killed the person.”
“Pal and Puok had nothing to do with this conflict between Chie-tot and Chie-Majoak of Akobo East. Of course, Yohannes Pal is from Chie-tot, but he knew nothing about the conflict. He was just an innocent intellectual who went to Akobo for Data Collection on his Master’s Degree Thesis. Mr. Puok James was innocently killed because he walked with his friend – Pal. They both were killed while visiting some NGOs’ vicinity in order to access Internet.”
Radio Tamazuj Director Hildebrand Bijleveld stated today, “We condemn the senseless killing of Pow James Raeth, somebody who was working for peace and for educating and informing the public.”
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Pow James Raeth. He was a talented and hard-working young man who showed so much promise and potential. We wish the whole family and community of Pow James to know how highly we valued his efforts as a journalist,” said Bijleveld.
At the time of his death, Pow James was working on a story about relations between the Murle and Lou Nuer tribes, and he had also recently returned from a trip to the Gambella Region of Ethiopia where he covered local peace-building efforts.
Previously, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) for coverage of efforts to identify abducted children and reunify them across tribal lines in Jonglei State.
Pow James grew up in the Adjumani District in Northern Uganda with other South Sudanese refugees. Although he hailed from the Nuer tribe, he proudly said that he spoke several other South Sudanese languages including Madi, Bari, Kuku and Acholi.
He held a diploma in journalism and mass communication from the Uganda Media, Consultants and Trainers (UMCAT) School of Journalism and Business Management in Kampala, Uganda.