The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) Warrap branch on Saturday petitioned Warrap State Government to investigate the killing of a local journalist.
The union’s branch officials want the state security apparatus to bring to book the killers of late journalist Marko Agei Makor Chol, who was killed in 2020 in Tonj South County.
UJOSS State Coordinator Daniel Mareng Wek said the late Marko Agei Makor Chol was killed while returning to his duty station at Door FM. He had travelled to his village, Manyang Ngok Payam, to see his family.
Mareng made the remarks during an end year round-table Christmas party attended by State Minister for Information William Wol Mayom. Mareng said the late Marko Agei died in line of duty.
He said, “He was killed innocently and mercilessly and government just let it go like that. There are no unknown gunmen within community, that is why I took the initiative to remind the government to launch investigations to bring the culprits to book,” Mareng said.
Responding to the calls, Warrap State Minister of Information William Wol Mayom said local authorities in Tonj South had been directed to investigate the incident.
“We are so committed as the state government to carry out investigations. We have directed the county commissioner to form a security committee to investigate the killing of the journalist,” he said.
At least 12 journalists have been killed in South Sudan since 2012 and the murders remain unresolved.
South Sudan is suppressing journalists and rights activists by intimidation, surveillance and data harvesting, according to a recent report from the UN commission on human rights in South Sudan, which warned that the clampdown on freedoms could hamper the country’s ability to conduct credible elections in 2024.
The 57-page report, released in October, includes accounts of nearly 100 state-sponsored human rights violations including intimidation, harassment, violence, arbitrary detentions and torture, as well as sexual violence against female reporters. The commission said the reports were corroborated by its independent investigations.
To contact Radio Tamazuj with comments, news tips or information, write to radiotamazuj@gmail.com or use the contact form.