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Bor - 30 Jan 2023

Jonglei State government orders journalists to register

The information ministry in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has directed all journalists operating in the state to register as part of measures to combat the spread of misinformation.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, Mahmed Chuol Peter, the state information minister director-general, said the registration is also necessary to obtain statistics for them to plan and regulate journalism which he said will in turn enhance press freedom. 

“We issued this order on 26 January. Registration will start on Monday, January 30 until February 10. The aim is to obtain statistics of journalists working for local media houses and those on a freelance basis so that we can identify those disguised as journalists,” Chuol said. “Things are unclear. There is a lot of confusion, we don’t know who are real journalists.”

Questioned if the move was not aimed at shrinking media space in the state, the director-general, said: “The purpose for the registration of all journalists is for the ministry to promote freedom of the press and enhance the efficiency of communication and information sharing. So, there is no need to restrict any journalists.”

However, one senior journalist, Manyuon Mayen Manyuon, said the ongoing registration could be a government plan to restrict the press and called on the government to have the decision reconsidered. 

“Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJoSS) is the right body for all journalists to register with. In an actual sense, this registration is unlawful. The Media Authority Act does not talk about it,” he said. “What is happening is censorship because anyone working for mainstream media can not spread propaganda. So, maybe the state wants to victimize journalists who do not succumb to them.”

Meanwhile, civil society activist, Ter Manyang, wondered if the state government was the right body to register journalists. 

“If the intention is to know the number of journalists, there is no problem. But should that be work of the state or that of UJoSS and Media Authority?” he asked. “So, the concern here is that why now and just one or two weeks for registration? This could restrict journalists ahead of the papal visit. So, there is a need for the state to dialogue with journalists in the state on this. Otherwise, I see this as a restriction for freelance journalists and free media space.”