Union of Journalists of South Sudan meets detained SSBC reporter several weeks later

Union of Journalists of South Sudan meets detained SSBC reporter several weeks later

South Sudan National Security Service permitted members of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan to meet detained SSBC Reporter Alfred Angasi Alfred on Friday after several weeks of unsuccessful attempts.

Alfred Angasi who has been behind bars since Monday, 5th July 2021 is being detained because of claims that he ‘refused reading news bulletin’ on orders of a National Security Officer deployed at SSBC in the night of Saturday, 3rd July 2021.

“The security officer told me to read news after the decrees were relayed from the TV, I told him I will do it if it was an order from my director and not NSS officer. I did not accept readings,” Angasi said on Sunday, 4 July 2021 night before his re-detention on Monday, 5th July 2021.

Following their meeting today, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan President, Oyet Patrick says they found out that there was no ongoing investigation by the national security to establish circumstances behind the journalist’s arrest. He says the officers they met were ‘misinformed’ that Alfred Angasi ‘refused’ to read President Kiir’s decrees.

“Actually, we had to explain to them what transpired between the journalist and the security officials. They told us the journalist refused to read President Kiir’s decrees, but we corrected them,” UJOSS President Oyet Patrick said.

In a statement released earlier today, the Committee to protect journalists called for the immediate release of Journalist Alfred Angasi because ‘no charges’ have been brought against him. The committee also appealed to South Sudanese Authorities to cease arbitrary arrest of press members.

Family members of the journalist have expressed worries over his state of health because they say he was still recovering from an ailment.