The Monday arrest of journalist George Ruot has sparked widespread condemnation from the South Sudan journalism community.
The arrest followed a defamation suit filed by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) against Ruot, a vocal critic of its leadership.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Juba Town Police Station Investigator William Yach confirmed Ruot’s detention.
“Mr Ruot has been arrested. He is here at Juba Town Police Station. He is being investigated and shall be released on bail,” Yach said.
Ruot was sued by UJOSS, whose leadership he accused of corruption, mismanagement of funds, altering the union’s constitution, and failing to convene a general assembly. UJOSS has denied the allegations.
UJOSS President Patrick Oyet said that he had attempted to resolve the issues with Ruot amicably without success.
“We were left with no option but to take legal action,” Oyet said.
“Due process was followed, an arrest warrant was issued, and he has been arrested. If Mr Ruot has evidence to substantiate his allegations of criminal behavior on our part, he should present it. If not, the law will take its course.”
Oyet criticized Ruot for allegedly reaching out to UJOSS donors to halt their funding, suggesting that such actions had escalated the situation beyond a manageable dispute.
“The defamation has gone too far to be ignored,” Oyet added.
The arrest has provoked strong reactions from fellow journalists, who view it as a potential assault on press freedom and a troubling precedent for the country’s media landscape.
The manager of Eye Radio, Koang Pal Chang, expressed his disapproval in a WhatsApp forum for South Sudanese journalists, criticizing UJOSS for taking drastic measures against a fellow journalist.
“UJOSS, once a staunch advocate for journalists’ rights, is now arresting them,” Chang wrote.
“It’s disheartening to see leaders like Oyet and Majak behaving similarly to Ruot, who is known for seeking attention. As role models for many journalists, you both must restore your integrity and avoid being drawn into unnecessary drama.”
Journalist Cirilo Mathiang also condemned the arrest, suggesting that the Union should have addressed Ruot’s concerns through an extraordinary General Assembly rather than resorting to legal action.
“There is no moral justification for this arrest. The union should have taken better action, such as filing a lawsuit in court. What a shame?” Mathiang commented.
Lieth Jock Nyak warned that the arrest threatened the freedom of speech and undermined journalistic independence.
“It is clear that the Chairperson and the Secretary General of the UJOSS are responsible for this arrest. We are dismayed by the action taken against a journalist over office disputes rather than addressing alleged misconduct through a competent court of law,” Nyak stated.
He called for a thorough and impartial investigation and urged the Union to address Ruot’s accusations transparently.
Ruot previously served as the Program Coordinator at UJOSS and represents Unity State on the national executive board. There was no official statement from UJOSS regarding Ruot’s arrest.