SOUTH SUDAN: The European Union Reaffirms Support For Media In South Sudan

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

The European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to supporting the media landscape in South Sudan, emphasizing the importance of press freedom.

During a speech commemorating World Press Freedom Day, Timo Olkkonen, head of the EU delegation to South Sudan, conveyed the bloc’s stance amid ongoing challenges faced by journalists and media organizations in the country.

“I am honored to join you and the global community in recognizing this year’s World Press Freedom Day in South Sudan,” Olkkonen stated.

“Today, we reaffirm the critical role that a free, independent, and safe press plays in the foundation of democratic societies. Sadly, we must acknowledge that much work remains, as journalists worldwide are increasingly confronted with threats to their safety, integrity, and their right to information,” he added.

He emphasized that the EU views a free press as democracy’s most formidable protector and asserted that journalists must be empowered to report without fear of censorship, intimidation, or retaliation.

“The European Union is unwavering in its commitment to defend and promote media and press freedom not just on World Press Freedom Day, but every day throughout the year,” he affirmed.

Olkkonen applauded recent initiatives aimed at fostering regular dialogue among media stakeholders, noting that these efforts contribute to creating a conducive environment for journalists to operate with minimal interference.

“I would like to specifically commend the work of the Union of Journalists, Journalists for Human Rights, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan, the Media Authority, the National Communication Authority, and generous contributors such as UNESCO and Norwegian People’s Aid,” he stated. “Their contributions are vital in building a competent, reliable, professional, accountable, and responsible media sector in our country.”

The EU envoy highlighted the bloc’s direct and indirect support for the media community, referencing an initiative from the previous year that enabled two South Sudanese journalists to attend the Connecting Media Communities Conference in Kosovo. This event gathered 99 journalists from around the globe for intensive workshops and discussions focused on combating disinformation and fostering international connections among media professionals.

Olkkonen pledged that the EU will continue to enhance the capabilities of South Sudanese journalists by supporting similar opportunities in the future.

He also congratulated the stakeholders for their collective efforts in improving South Sudan’s press freedom ranking, which has risen from 136 to 109 in the most recent Reporters Without Borders index.

“Let us unite our efforts to elevate South Sudan’s ranking even further,” he urged.