South Sudan security agencies have lifted a ban imposed on the independent Arabic-language daily newspaper Al-Watan.
South Sudanese authorities banned access to the Al-Watan offices on 24 November 2023 after the newspaper published a letter of condolence that they had sent to Israel.
According to the newspaper’s management, the suspension was a reprisal for its publication on 11 October of a letter to the Israeli authorities signed by President Salva Kiir expressing condolences for the attacks on civilians by Hamas four days earlier.
The staff said the letter was sent prematurely to the newspaper, before it was finalized, by then Youth and Sports Minister Albino Bol Dhieu, who was fired five weeks later, on 17 November. He reportedly paid Al-Watan to publish it as sponsored content on its front page.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday evening, Al-watan’s editor-in-chief, Michael Christopher, confirmed that the authorities had lifted the suspension and authorized the Arabic daily newspaper to resume publications in Juba.
“We received a notification during a meeting with the Media Authority this evening (Thursday), and the authorities authorized the newspaper to resume publication,” Michael said.
When asked if the newspaper could resume publication without restrictions, Michael said, “We are ready to resume publication, but were given some instructions during the meeting, such as adherence to accuracy, code of ethics, and other things.”
“I would like to inform our readers that the newspaper will be available in the market starting next week despite the financial challenges we have been facing due to the newspaper’s closure for eight months,” he added.
According to the South Sudanese editor, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) and the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) played a crucial role in lobbying for the newspaper’s reopening after eight months of suspension.
South Sudan media outlets and journalists are often the targets of government officials, especially when highlighting human rights violations, corruption and abuse of power.
The country ranks 136 out of 180 on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.