AMDISS SEEKS GREATER PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AMID MEDIA-SECURITY COLLABORATION IN SOUTH SUDAN.

Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) has on Thursday last week conducted a one-day Media-Security seminar in Juba.
The event, which brought together at least 40 stakeholders, including Media Managers, Security Agencies, and civil society, aimed to discuss the Safety and Protection of journalists.
The Media-Security Seminar was organized under the theme, “Upholding Safety and Protection of Journalists in South Sudan,” as a way to strengthen the ties between the Media and Security agencies to ensure effective coverage of current affairs in our country.
Speaking during the opening of the event, Ayaa Irene Lokang, Director of AMDISS, reminds the Security Actors about the vital role of Journalists in holding public office holders accountable and empowering the public.
She said, “Journalists play a very vital role in holding people in power accountable, empowering the public with information which helps them make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in public life.”
Ayaa added, “Through their reporting, journalists expose corruption practices and human rights violations, which help the government to act accordingly.”
While presenting the Media Landscape Report, Chris Marol, Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Board of AMDISS, urges the Security Agents to see Journalists as people with a Responsibility to do.
“As AMDISS, we will continue to advocate for the Protection of Journalists and Media Freedom. You [Security Agents] should see the journalists as citizens as well as people with a responsibility to do so.
According to the AMDISS Media Landscape Report documented between April 2024 and June 2025, a total of 43 media violations incidents were recorded, 32 cases targeted individual journalists, while 11 were against media houses.
According to Chris Marol, “These incidents recorded will help in comparing the media situation between 2024 and this year [2025].”
For Marol, there’s a bit of improvement, and he hopes that in 2026, those numbers should be able to be reduced.
David John Kumuri, Director of Information and Public Relations of the National Security Internal Bureau (NSS_ISB), who also doubles as the Spokesperson for the National Security Service, lauds AMDISS for its continuous engagement with various institutions at different levels and capacities.
He expressed that, “The National Security Internal Bureau lauds AMDISS for its continued engagement with various institutions at different levels and capacities.”
Kumuri added that, “These Initiatives and Cooperation are what will shape the Media-Security Relationship in the long run for both Security and the Media.”
Meanwhile, Major General James Monday Enoka, Spokesperson of Police, acknowledges the Role of such collaborations, stating that, “The Collaboration between the Security and Media is paramount.”
“Such forums are very important in strengthening stakeholders between the media sector and the Security Sector,” he added.
South Sudan Media-Security Seminar is organized by Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) with support from #IFeX, a Global Network that Defends and Promotes Freedom of Expression.