The newly appointed information minister of South Sudan’s Yei River State, Azaria Duku Enocka has vowed to promote media freedom and economically empower youth in the region.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Azaria said granting press freedom enables the state government and the people interact freely for an informed society that shapes democracy and development.
“This time, we need to work together with journalists and media houses so that we provide accurate information to our people. This will help the government to pass information and it will also hear information from members of the public for informed decision-making,” he said.
The focus, the minister added, will be to cooperate with journalists and the media houses so that an informed and progressive society is built.
Relations between the government and the media have been rocky, with several cases of harassment and intimidation reported last year.
Azaria, however, assured citizens of change while stressing what he described as the state government commitment to guarantee safety and protection towards media houses and those in media practices.
“The policy of the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] and the country’s constitution have allowed freedom of expression and we as a state government will protect journalists and work freely but we also want them to report accurately, balanced information without biasness according to media professional code of ethics and we are ready to work together and protect the journalists,” said Azaria.
On youth empowerment, Azaria said his ministry would work hand in hand with development partners to secure funds meant to offer youth capacity building skills to become productive citizens of the state.
“Youth are the hope for the future. We will work very hard to support them so that they contribute to the development of this place,” stressed the minister, adding, “We will focus on capacity building trainings so that our youth become productive”.
Azaria replaced Alfred Duku Kenneth who was sacked late last year.