Oliver Modi Philip, the chairman of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), has criticized Nhial Bol Aken for retiring from his position as editor-in-chief of The Citizen and leaving the journalism profession.

Last week Nhial explained in interviews with the press that he was forced to take the decision after his newspaper was illegally closed down by security authorities.

His decision drew fire from Oliver Modi in an article in the Juba Monitor under the headline “UJOSS condemns Nhial Bol.”

The Union of Journalists is a group representing a number of South Sudanese journalists including members of the government-controlled radio stations. Oliver Modi has headed the Union for many years.

“We need to control our temper no matter how much the threat is, we need to control ourselves...” said Modi, as quoted by Juba Monitor. “...I want Nhial to continue struggling as a prominent journalist to put the media in South Sudan where it should be.”

Modi futher detailed some of his recent meetings with security authorities where he claims to have been reassured of the reopening of the Citizen newspaper soon. “The National Security Personnel have been clear and told us that they are making analysis of all the allegations and they would recommend it ot the Ministry of Information,” he said.

He added, “They never told us the period, it may take one month, two months or three months.”

However, for his part, Nhial Bol recently said in an interview with Bakhita FM that even if the Citizen reopens he will already have left journalism and that chapter of his life is closed.

Nhial explained that he will not be leaving public life entirely but he will return to the media field because it is like a game in which the rules are not clear.

File photo: Chairperson of UJOSS Oliver Modi (left) with SPLA Director for Information and Public Relations Ministry of Defence Gen. Malak Ayuen, 2012