Thousands of SPLM supporters gathered at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in May 2024 for the endorsement of President Salva Kiir by the Greater Equatoria Region as the SPLM's flag bearer for the postponed 2024 elections - Courtesy of PPU

The Media Authority has stated that the SPLM party lacks mandate to control the media, seemingly responding to comments from the SPLM Secretary-General, who suggested they may allow the shutdown of social media due to rising misinformation in the country.

On December 3, Peter Lam Both warned social media after false allegations were circulated that Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, Dr Benjamin Bol Mel, had been sworn in as the acting president.

Addressing a press conference at the SPLM House in Juba on Tuesday, December 3, Mr Both warned that if such rumours continued the government would shut down social media.

But in a press conference held in Juba on December 17, Media Authority’s Managing Director Elijah Alier Kuai said the political party is free to issue any statement – but that it is not tasked with the role.

“The SPLM party, they don’t have the capacity to control the media. There are institutions tasked with this role. So in these regards, yeah, they can issue any statement,” he said.

“This is one of the issues here, if you get it here, the politician and religious leaders, as they are influencers, they speak to people and people listen to them. But we urge them to be mindful.”

“Simply because they have to differentiate the constructive criticism and inflammatory rhetoric. Therefore, when issues of responsibility come in issues to do with the media, they lie only with the media authority.”

In his press briefing, SPLM Secretary General Lam Both said there had been a rise in negative propaganda against the party on social media platforms including, Facebook, WhatsApp and X.

He said although his party which led by President Kiir, support freedom of expression, that right is being abused and they have the capacity to shut down social media.

“SPLM is for the freedom of expression and speech, but when it is abused, it becomes a crime. We have the capacity to shut social media in South Sudan,” he said.

“If the social media becomes anti-SPLM, we will put our hands up and allow those who have the capacity to shut it down to do that.”