Media Authority says no party can shutdown social media

JUBA-Nobody can shutdown social media in South Sudan except the media regulatory body, said official.

In December, the Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Peter Lam Both, has threatened to shut down social media in South Sudan over propaganda.

This came after rumors surfaced on social media that the Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, is allegedly sworn in as the acting president.

As well as a letter purportedly written by Bol Mel circulating on social media and ordering the governor of the bank of South Sudan to audit the accounts of the first family.

Addressing journalists at a press conference held in Juba on Tuesday, Mr. Elijah Alier Kuai, Managing Director of Media Authority said no political party has power to shutdown social media except the body regulating media.

“We are talking as a regulator, the SPLM party, they don’t have the capacity to control the media – There are institution tasked with this role,” Alier said.

Alier cautioned the politicians and religious leaders to be mindful of their words they spill out to the public.

“The politician and religious leaders, as they are influencers, they speak to people and people listen to them. But we urge them to do what? To be mindful. Simply because they have to differentiate the constructive criticism and inflammatory rhetoric,” he said.

“Therefore, when issues of responsibility come in, issues to do with the media, they lies only with the media authority,” he affirmed.

He urged all the other stakeholders or any government institution to work with the media authority.

“Our laws do not encourage political parties to own media but they can use the platform of the media. So, the statement was issued, but they need guidance in that situation.”

South Sudan Media Authority was created in 2016 and started operations in 2017.

It is mandated by Media Authority Act, 2013 to regulate, develop and promote an independent and pluralistic media industry in the country.