Journalists Face Harassment and Extortion in Juba 

By Majur Chol Khor 

A group of four journalists, invited by the United Nations Population Fund Agency to cover a humanitarian event at the Juba Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Center, found themselves in a troubling situation upon returning from the event on December 24th. 

The journalists were returning home around noon when they managed to catch a ride with a colleague. As they approached the vicinity near the NRA office in Juba, their driver halted the vehicle at a safe distance from the roundabout, adhering to local traffic regulations. However, their journey took a turn when national security officers stopped them, claiming they had violated traffic laws.

According to one journalist, the officers insisted that they could not drop off passengers near the roundabout, insisting on the enforcement of obscure laws regarding stopping near the roundabout. “We were simply dropped off, as we have done many times before,” the journalist remarked. As tensions escalated, the officers began to confront the journalists, with some appearing unprofessional and allegedly intoxicated.

One officer directed his aggression towards the journalist, who had stepped out of the vehicle holding a crate of water. The officer threatened the journalist with either a fine of 250,000 South Sudanese pounds or 55 lashes, which the journalist viewed as an intimidation tactic. Concerned for his safety, the journalist, who prefers to remain anonymous, claimed he identified himself as a university student instead of a journalist to avoid further conflict.

In a chaotic turn of events, the officer attempted to physically intimidate the journalist, leading to a struggle. The journalist described an alarming encounter where an officer aggressively reached into his pocket, prompting him to react defensively to retrieve his phone, which had been taken during the scuffle. Soon, another officer allegedly took the opportunity to steal money from the journalist’s pocket amidst the turmoil.

The situation drew the attention of onlookers, and amidst the chaos, a military officer intervened, advising the journalist to let the matter go for his safety, especially during the festive season. Ultimately, the distressed journalist was released and allowed to leave, albeit with mixed feelings of humiliation and fear for his safety.