Bor, South Sudan
September 25, 2021— Radio Jonglei, a radio station in Jonglei state’s capital, Bor, has resumed operations amid strict censorship following a month-long shutdown.
The radio station, which was shutdown on August 24th, 2021 by the state security operatives on grounds of “inciting content”, was given a green-light to resume operations yesterday, September 24th, 2021.
Speaking to City Review on phone call from Bor town, the Executive Director of Radio Jonglei, Tijwog Agwet, said the radio station was shutdown because it aired stories by the “People’s Coalition for Civil Action”, a civil society group that scheduled peaceful protests for August 31st, 2021.
“We are back on the air this afternoon, the radio was closed down because we broadcast about the uprising of the People’s Coalition for Cavil Action (PCCA) on the 24th of August and that is the reason as to why we were closed ”Agwet said.
Following the closure of the radio station, Agwet said the people of Jonglei state and Bor town in particular, who rely heavily on the only radio station in town, found it difficult to go by without listening to news updates and developmental programs.
“This has been the only radio that educates people on developmental programs, it was not easy but we are now back, things happen,” he said.
Agwet stressed that what they did was a grave mistake; however, after admitting their mistake and apologized to the state authorities, they were pardoned and allowed to resume operations.
Ms.Veronica William, Jonglei State Minister of Information and Communication also said the Radio station was operating without a license and its staff members were using what she calls an “offensive language on air.”
“The issue of radio Jonglei State closure came from a security meeting between the state government and national security,’’ William was quoted by City Review to have said.
While media houses are constantly shutdown and journalists killed or detained, freedom of expression remains elusive to many citizens across the whole country.
