Journalist released without charges after one year in detention by National Security Service  

JUBA – South Sudanese Journalist Jackson Ochaya has been released without charge on Friday, nearly one year after his detention by the National Security Service for writing a story in which he quoting a holdout opposition spokesman.

The management of No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper said in a statement issued on Friday that the National Security Service (NSS) released its reporter Jackson Ochaya after spending nearly a year in detention without charges.

Ochaya was arrested in late August last year after he wrote an article on the clashes between the Government forces and the National Salvation Front (NAS) in which he contacted the NAS spokesperson.

“He was set free this afternoon without charges and received by his family members,” the Newspaper said in the statement seen by Sudans Post.

There have been reported cases of attack on media freedom in South Sudan.

Since independence in 2011, dozens of reporters have been subjected to intimidation, arrest, censorship, and violence, according to rights groups.

The Media Authority Act 2013 prohibits unlawful arrest, detention, harassment, intimidation, and torture of journalists.

But arbitrary arrest and detention, harassment, intimidation and killing of journalists have forced many to abandon the profession or leave the country.