Stephen Omiri, Certified Accountant and Macroeconomic Analyst and CEO of Eye Media. (Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio).

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – As South Sudan ushered in the New Year today, the leadership of Eye Radio delivered a somber yet resilient message, reflecting on 2025 as the “darkest year” in the station’s history.

In a statement released to mark the start of 2026, Eye Media CEO Stephen Omiri detailed a year defined by a fight for survival and the heartbreaking loss of two legendary broadcast journalists.

The newsroom is currently in a state of deep mourning following the back-to-back deaths of senior staff members. Charles Wote passed away in Kampala on March 15, 2025, while seeking medical treatment, followed only days ago by the sudden passing of Emmanuel Joseph Akile on December 30, 2025, in Juba.

Omiri described Akile as a “shining light and symbol of humility,” noting that the veteran journalist passed away within hours of seeking treatment.

“Both Charles and Emmanuel were professional journalists committed to their profession, driven by a passion to serve and enlighten our nation,” Omiri stated. The station has confirmed that Akile will be given a final, dignified send-off tomorrow, January 2, 2026.

Beyond the personal tragedies, the CEO revealed the extent of the financial crisis that nearly silenced the station last year. The crisis began in January 2025 with a sudden loss of funding that threatened Eye Radio’s very existence.

The CEO praised his staff for their sacrifice, noting that they volunteered their services to keep the nation informed until the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands stepped in with six months of bridging funds. He also highlighted critical support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Juba, which provided broadcast equipment to maintain relay stations in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Eastern Equatoria States.

While the station began in 2026 on the air, the financial outlook remains precarious. Omiri admitted that the team is stepping into the New Year without the essential funds required to sustain full operations or support the families of the staff who risk their lives on the frontlines of crisis and conflict.

“I pray that God grants us health and opens doors of goodwill and opportunity for us all,” Omiri said. He urged the public and stakeholders to hold onto the “integrity that Emmanuel exemplified” as the station seeks a path toward restoration.

The message concluded with a call for national unity as the media community prepares for Saturday’s funeral. Omiri reaffirmed that despite the “cruel hands of death,” the station’s belief in the “just cause of enlightenment and accountability” remains the driving force for Eye Radio in 2026.