Late Emmanuel Joseph Akile - File Photo

Civil society advocacy group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has announced an award to honour late Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile.

Akile died on Tuesday December 30, 2025, at Gudele Hospital after a short illness. His untimely death is being mourned by the media, friends, and family.

Edmund Yakani, the head of the organization, said the award recognizes late Akile’s dedication to advocating for the social contract between citizens and the government and his impactful contributions to social accountability in the country.

According to activist Yakani, the late Akile was a dedicated human rights defender and a voice of inspiration for all South Sudanese, inspiring them to envision and work towards the South Sudan they aspire to see.

“The head of CEPO hopes that late Akile’s stay long to witness the progress in South Sudan that he dedicated his life to campaigning for,” Yakani said.

Yakani also called upon Emmanuel Akile’s family, friends, Eye Radio’s family, and its listeners to collectively pray and seek divine intervention, asking Almighty God to grant eternal peace to his soul.

Late Akile began his journey at Eye Radio in 2014 as an ambitious intern, where he served until his passing on December 30th, 2025, after a brief two-day hospitalization.

He played a crucial role in informing the public through his coverage of the Addis Ababa peace talks and, most recently, the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi.

Emmanuel Joseph Akile is survived by a 13-year-old son. He rose from an intern to senior management, and from a student of journalism to a master of the airwaves.