By Deng Ghai Deng
Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has condemned the Media Authority’s recent decision to stop Eye Radio from publishing its weekly e-newsletter.
This week, Eye Radio announced on its Facebook page that the Media Authority had ordered the cessation of its e-newsletter publication.
Yakani urged the Media Authority to reconsider its decision, emphasizing that it creates an information vacuum critical for the peace implementation process in South Sudan.
“Access to accurate information right now is a priority in the Republic of South Sudan, where we are facing political turmoil with the transitional period extended and likely to end with elections. Elections require civic education, which in turn requires access to accurate information and the creation of space for people to express themselves and enjoy freedom of speech,” Yakani stated.
An independent legal expert, Philip Anyang Ngong, also weighed in on the controversy, stating that the Media Authority has not provided a clear rationale for its decision.
He noted that the cited articles in the suspension notice pertain to frequencies, which do not legally restrict Eye Radio from publishing its e-newsletters.
“Sec. 33 (2) of the Media Authority Act, 2013 doesn’t relate to the actions of the regulator. The known position is Eye Radio is registered, and so censoring some of their products or programs goes outside the law and the spirit of media freedom. Such decisions affect the beneficiaries or listeners of the civic education that the radio conducts,” Anyang said.
Both Yakani and Anyang are urging the Media Authority to reconsider its stance, emphasizing the importance of media freedom and public access to vital information during this critical period in South Sudan’s political landscape.
Attempts to reach Elijah Alier, the managing director of the Media Authority, for comments were unsuccessful.