Security personnel in Juba have detained editor Joseph Afandi who works for Arabic daily El Tabeer (“Expression”), allegedly for criticizing the ruling party SPLM, local sources told Radio Tamazuj. The journalist was detained at the National Security Service head office in the Jebel neighborhood of Juba.

The National Security Service personnel arrested the editor in Hai Thuwra near Juba University on Tuesday evening at 9:00 p.m., according to multiple sources. His arrest comes after publication of an article on 23 December that reportedly annoyed the National Security.

The security branch also verbally instructed the paper to cease publication. “They must stop publication until further notice,” said a source who preferred not to be named.

NSS, a security organ that reports directly to President Salva Kiir, also continues to hold UN radio journalist George Livio after more than a year without charge. The security branch maintains an office for monitoring and controlling both state and independent media outlets.

El Tabeer newspaper is only about a month old. The paper was lauched after Al Rai newspaper, headed by Wazir Michael, was closed down by National Security in August. At its launch, the paper announced that it would print an estimated 1500 copies daily, joining three other daily Arabic newspapers in the capital Juba.

File photo: One of the first editions of El Tabeer newspaper