By Philip Buda Ladu
Media Cluster in South Sudan, part of South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN), preparations for World Press Freedom Day 2025 and to launch a new initiative to support journalists in the country.
The gathering, led by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), centered on the theme “Strengthen Media Solidarity and Empowerment in South Sudan”.
Mr. Majak Daniel, Secretary General of UJOSS, underscored the importance of media solidarity and the Media Cluster’s role in advocating for a free and independent press.
He stated that the meeting provided an opportunity for the Media Cluster to receive updates from the World Press Freedom Day 2025 organizing committee and to address any challenges the committee might be facing.
“If there are any challenges facing the organizing committee, the Media Cluster is here to see how best we can work together to overcome them,” Majak said in a statement on UJOSS official page.
A key highlight of the meeting was the introduction of a new Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) initiative.
Majak explained that “UJOSS took the initiative in leading the SACCO to counter the recent shutdown of donors and the resulting cost-cutting measures in South Sudan,”
He further noted that the welfare of journalists has been a long-standing concern for UJOSS.
“For the last four years, it has not been easy for us to tackle the issue of journalists’ welfare. That’s why we consider the SACCO to be important,” Majak said.
Omara Joseph, representing SSHRDN, expressed strong support for the SACCO initiative, describing it as a sustainable solution for the long-term welfare of journalists.
“The Media Cluster is one of the crucial clusters in SSHRDN, and we are happy that UJOSS came up with the idea of SACCO. It’s a step towards sustainability,” Omara stated.
Mr. Sapana Abuyi, Director General for Information and Media Compliance at the Media Authority, addressed the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation in South Sudan.
He stressed the importance of public education on responsible social media use to combat the spread of false information.
“Misinformation and disinformation are becoming the order of the day. That’s why we, the Media Authority, are working hard to sensitize people to use social media correctly,” Abuyi stated.
The meeting also included an update on the planned activities for World Press Freedom Day 2025, which will focus on supporting an enabling environment for the media in South Sudan.
Five key activities are planned, including a two-day workshop, a radio campaign with jingles in English and Arabic, and a radio talk show.
The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2025 in South Sudan will be “Support Enabling Environment for the Media in South Sudan”.