A billboard bearing a message titled: "Promote Freedom of Expression and Human Rights in South Sudan without censorship." erected by Association for Media Development in South Sudan on a road leading to the Malakia Police Station toward UAP Tower in Juba - credit | AMDISS | Juma

At least 12 journalists have been killed in South Sudan since 2012 and the murders remain unresolved, according to media data as the country’s journalists’ union urges similar probes into the crimes.

The deceased media personnel include 11 South Sudanese nationals and one foreigner, and most of them were killed by gunmen who were never identified.

The incident happened during the country’s civil war.

– Isaiah Diing Abraham –

Isaiah Diing Abraham, a contributor to Sudan Tribune, Gurtong and Sudanese online, was shot dead by unidentified men in the Gudele suburb of Juba, Central Equatoria, the Committee to Protect Journalists noted.

The family and colleagues quoted by the watchdog said the gunmen came to Awuol’s home a little after midnight, asked him to come outside, and then shot him dead and took his cell phone.

CPJ noted that Diing, typically writing opinion articles critical of political leaders, had been threatened several times in the past and had received anonymous phone calls warning him to stop writing, according to local journalists.

South Sudan’s former Inspector General of Police, Acuil Tito reportedly told reporters they were investigating the case.

– Peter Moi –

Pow Joseph Reath, a freelance journalist was shot dead in Akobo County of Jonglei State together with two other people, in what local officials termed a revenge killing.

Eye Radio was told at the time that they were killed as they walked to an NGO compound to access the internet.

The Union of Journalists has condemned the killing.

– Five journalists slained – 

On 25 January 2015, five journalists working for the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) were killed in a road ambush while travelling with state government officials to Raja County.

They were Musa Mohammed, Boutros Martin, Daila Marko, Randa George, and Adam Juma. A total of eleven people were killed in the attack that occured north of Western Barh el Ghazal State.

Two of the slain journalists, Dalia Marko and Randa George Adam, were women.

– Isaac Vuni – 

Freelance journalist Isaac Vuni was killed in Pageri County ofEastern Equatoria State in September 2016. His body was found four months after his abduction, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Vuni’s relatives told an online newspaper that his body was discovered on a farm outside Kerepi, the village where his family lives, near the Ugandan border.

Gunmen reportedly kidnapped Vuni and his brother Andruga from the family’s home on the night of 4 June.

– John Gatluak –

John Galuak Manguet, a radio journalist, was killed by armed men in Juba in 2016, inside a hotel amid renewed violence in the country.

He was working for Internews, a U.S.-funded organization that assists radio stations in South Sudan.

Late John Galuak was the only journalist whose murder case made it to trial in 2018 in Juba, but it is unclear if someone has personally been found guilty of the crime.

– Christopher Allen – 

Christoper Allen, a British-American freelance journalist was killed in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, in August 2017.

Allen, 26, was shot dead on the front line while covering clashes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in Kaya town of Morobo County, Central Equatoria State.

The South Sudan government on Monday formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the death of Allen, whose family and home countries have long demanded answers on the circumstances leading to his death.

– Marko Agei Makhor – 

Makhor, a radio journalist, was killed by unknown gunmen in July 2020, in Tonj of Warrap State.

He was shot and killed on his way to Tonj town from his home village, according to a media manager in the state.