SSBC journalist dismissed for covering SPLM-IO press conference in Juba

JUBA – The management of South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) has dismissed one of its news anchors, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan said.

In what appears to have been triggered by a story he covered at a press conference, Ayuel Chan was shown the door at the state broadcaster.

The controversial presser was reportedly organized by SPLM-IO members in Juba on October 18^th.

The SPLM-IO members were reacting to the alleged maltreatment of their members in Warrap state by the state governor belonging to SPLM-IG.

The security agents in Juba say the main opposition group members were talking against President Salva Kiir’s government.

On the 21^st of October, Ayuel was on duty as a news anchor before being forced out from the studio of SSBC by the National Security officers who later took him to the detention facility in Juba commonly known as Blue house.

He was released the following day after UJOSS immediately engaged officials at the national security.

Before his suspension last month, Ayuel Chan was attached as a journalist by the management of SSBC to the office of Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

When UJOSS leadership spoke to him, Chan said his arrest was triggered by covering the press conference organized by SPLM-IO members in the office of the First Vice President.

UJOSS President Oyet Patrick Charles says his office will continue to engage with the management of SSBC to ad- dress the issues of arrests of journalists by the security officials at the station.