Gov’t admits army killed US reporter, but claims he was ‘a white rebel’

JUBA – South Sudan government has admitted that its army which was then Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has killed US reporter Christopher Allan, but then claim that the American journalist was a “white rebel” who was fighting alongside rebel forces of the SPLA-IO.

The US reporter was killed on August 26, 2017 while covering clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces which was then SPLA, and the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition.

Since then, no investigation has been made as government has repeatedly questioned Allan’s presence in South Sudan.

Speaking during the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Juba on Wednesday, Makuei admitted that government forces killed the US reporter, but claimed that Allen was a rebel fighting alongside opposition forces fighting the government in Central Equatoria.

“This man (Christopher Allen) has entered South Sudan illegally in the first place. He is a rebel and this is why I declared in a statement that we have killed a white rebel because he was killed on the side of the rebel, so he was a rebel,” Makuei said.

“Now can we be held answerable or accountable for the death of such a journalist? This is funny and we are being asked to investigate, whom do we investigate now?” he asked.