2 more SSBC journalists released by National Security Service

JUBA, MARCH 14, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has released two more state TV journalists from its detention, according to a statement from the national journalists’ syndicate.

According to the statement signed by Oyet Patrick, head of the journalists’ body, those released are Victor Ladu and Mustapha Osman and those who are still in detention are Garang John and Jacob Benjamin.

“The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) welcomes the release of Victor Ladu and Mustapha Osman,” it said.

“UJOSS thanks Media Authority, the National Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services and UJOSS legal team for the continuous engagement regarding the case of the SSBC staff,” it added.

It urged “the government to release Garang John and Jacob Benjamin or if they have a case to answer, they should be produced in a court of law.”

On January 6, at least six journalists were arrested by the National Security Service after a footage in which President Salva Kiir Mayardit appeared to be peeing on himself went viral on social media.

In late January, another journalist, Garang John was arrested bringing the number of the journalists detained to seven.

They were blamed for distribution of the video in which the president was filmed during a road-opening project where only government journalists were allowed to attend in December 2022.

In February, three of the seven journalists were released, bringing the number of those who were still in detention to four.