The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the closure of the Catholic Church’s radio station in the South Sudanese national capital and demanded an apology from the National Security Service.
“South Sudan security should apologize for closing Bakhita FM in Juba, not the other way round,” the journalists’ organization stated.
“The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns South Sudanese authorities’ shutdown of the popular Catholic-run Bakhita Radio station in Juba,” reads a statement from the group.
The government shut down the station and detained its news editor on Saturday. They released him four days later after failing to bring any charges.
Negotiations are ongoing between representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Government of South Sudan over reopening of the station.
So far the government has provided no written justification for the shutdown of Bakhita FM.
Related:
Human rights groups call for apology from National Security Service (19 Aug.)
South Sudan official shuts down Catholic radio station (16 Aug.)