The Embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on November 2 in observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
In the statement, they emphasized the urgency of putting an end to all forms of transgressions against the freedom of the press.
The joint statement underscored the critical role that the media plays in sustaining robust democracies, stating, “On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we recognize the vital role that media plays in healthy democracies. Journalists must be guaranteed the ability to practice their profession without fear of harassment, attacks, or arbitrary detention.”
Furthermore, the Embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom took the opportunity to call for justice in the case of Christopher Allen, a dual national American-British citizen, who lost his life in 2017 while reporting as a journalist on confrontations between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition.
They emphasized the need for a “credible investigation that leads to accountability” in this tragic incident.
Last month, the government of South Sudan formed a committee to investigate the killing of Journalist Christopher Allen.
In the 12 years since South Sudan gained independence, at least 12 journalists, including Christopher Allen, have lost their lives without accountability, according to the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS).