Yakani welcomes release of journalist from NSS cell

JUBA, FEBRUARY 20^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s prominent activist Edmund Yakani has welcomed the release of controversial journalist Garang John from the National Security Service (NSS) detention.

Several sources told Sudans Post on Monday afternoon that Garang John who was arrested in late January over links to a viral video in which President Salva Kiir Mayardit could be seen wetting on himself in public was released on Friday afternoon.

This is two days after the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) issued a statement calling on the government and the intelligence agency to release the journalists detained over the viral video or take them in court.

In a statement, Yakani who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomed the release of the journalists, saying it is a good step towards reconciliation as the country enters another two years of transitional period.

“CEPO appreciates the leadership of National Security Services for releasing Garang John who was the detained along with other SSBC journalists. This is positive response to our recent call or advocacy for the rest of SSBC detained journalists to be release,” he said.

“Exercising forgiveness for the detained SSBC journalists is good indicator of translating the call made preset for year 2023 to be year of forgiveness, reconciliation and development,” Yakani stressed.

He further called on journalists to practice their work in a responsible manner “in accordance with the developed code of conduct on practicing professional journalism by the South Sudan media authority.”

“Finally, CEPO is urging the leadership of NSS to compromise and release the remaining journalists under detention.”