South Sudan journalists’ union urges gov’t to offer condolence to family of slain colleague

JUBA – The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) has urged the government to offer formal condolences to the family of Christopher Allen, the British-American journalist killed in South Sudan in 2017.

The union also called for a written report on his death and renewed demands for investigations into the killings of other journalists in the country.

UJOSS Chairperson Oyet Patrick Charles commended the government’s investigation into Allen’s death but stressed, “Christopher was killed while trying to tell the stories of South Sudanese people to the world.”

“UJOSS therefore, urges the R-TGoNU to produce a written report on the death of Christopher, offer a copy of the report and formal condolences to his family,” he added.

Oyet called for continued transparency and investigation, noting, “This should also mark the beginning of investigation into the death of other journalists killed in South Sudan while doing their job.”

He cited International Humanitarian Law, stating that journalists in conflict zones should be considered civilians.

“From the evidence denoted to the media, it’s abundantly clear that Christopher was killed in the territory of South Sudan by warring parties in 2017, but those parties are now in one government,” he added.

South Sudan released a report on March 21^st, 2024, determining Allen died in crossfire during fighting between the army and SPLA-IO rebels in Kaya, Central Equatoria State, in August 2017.

The investigative committee denied Allen was targeted.