South Sudan’s government on Tuesday deported a foreign journalist working for The Associated Press (AP) to neighbouring Uganda.

Justin Lynch, an American freelance journalist who had reported on human rights abuses in South Sudan for the past six months.

The international news agency said that Lynch’s mobile phones were temporarily seized by security agents before being deported to Uganda. Lynch himself said that the security agents told him that he was being deported for his journalistic work.

Lynch recently reported on evidence of ethnic violence in the country and on the warning by a UN official that South Sudan is at risk of genocide, the agency reported.

Speaking from New York, AP executives defended Lynch's reporting and said they were seeking an explanation from the government.

"Any move to suppress legitimate journalism and truthful reporting shedding light on humanitarian crimes is wrong and should be condemned. We hope that the government of South Sudan will reconsider its actions," said Ian Phillips, AP's vice president for international news.

For his part, Michael Makuei, South Sudan’s Minister of Information, denied any knowledge of Lynch’s deportation to Kampala, saying they would look into the matter.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek also said he would investigate and release a statement when he had the facts.

File photo: Minister Michael Makuei