South Sudan security service shutdown Juba-based newspaper

File: Logo of the Agamlong daily newspaper | Credit | Facebook

April 1, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has ordered the closure – without legal notice – the Juba-based daily newspaper, Agamlong, according to a brief statement seen by South Sudan News Now.

“It is an unfortunate to inform the public that security personnel who claimed to have been sent from National security headquarters came to the Universal Printing company and stop the printing of tomorrow news,” the Agamlong newspaper said on its social media Facebook page on Monday.

The security men were asked by the management as to why and who closed the newspaper and said they were ordered by the director of the National Security Service’s Internal Bureau Gen. Akol Koor.

“When they were asked, they told us that the newspaper is closed down by Gen. AKol Koor till further notice by the director of South Sudan National Security service,” the newspaper said in the statement.

“Therefore, we would like to inform our clients that we are very sorry for such an inconvenient,” they said.

Reacting to the news, the United States Embassy in Juba said on its social media Facebook page that the action by the South Sudan security institution was disappointing stressing the importance of the role played by an independent media in a country.

“It is disappointing to hear that Agamlong Daily Newspaper has been closed.  An independent press plays an important role in informing both the public and the government,” the embassy said.

Observers say the independent media of South Sudan “still grapple with a slew of serious problems that include persecution. Some journalists are forced to flee the country.

“Some of those who do not abandon the profession resort to censoring themselves. Journalists and rights activists admit that there has been a reduction of arrests, but feel this is only a small improvement.”

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