United Nations calls for release of Alfred Taban

The United Nations has called for the release of Alfred Taban, the editor of the Juba Monitor newspaper.

The United Nations has called for the release of Alfred Taban, the editor of the Juba Monitor newspaper.

“The UN Mission is also calling for the immediate release of Alfred Taban, the journalist arrested by the National Security Services, and for protection of freedom of expression,” said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for U.N. Secreatry General Ban Ki-moon. 

Taban was arrested over the weekend for writing an article that called on President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to step down. 

“President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar have completely failed,” Taban wrote, and said that they were either unable or unwilling to control their forces “who killed scores of people in Juba, including soldiers and civilians and looted the properties of many people of Juba.” 

“These troops have also raped women, extorted money from passengers and drivers and burnt down houses of innocent civilians. The two leaders declared a ceasefire only after hundreds of people had already been killed,” wrote the chief editor.

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South Sudanese editor arrested after calling on Kiir & Machar to step down (17. Jul)