Elijah Alier, the Managing Director of South Sudan Media Authority speaks during an event to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information this morning in Juba. Thursday, September 28, 2023. (Moyo Jacob/Eye Radio).

South Sudan Media Authority boss on Thursday called on journalists to deter misinformation and disinformation as the country gears toward elections.

The country hopes to go for its first-ever general elections in December 2024 amid uncertainty over the pending security arrangements and lack of a permanent constitution.

Elijah Alier, the Managing Director of the media regulatory body, stressed the “significant” role media plays in the democratic transition.

He encouraged media institutions to be ethical in ensuring citizens are educated about their constitutional rights in making informed decisions.

“We are always cautioning all of us to be very careful not to encourage misinformation and disinformation,” he said.

Alier made the remarks during an event to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information in Juba.

“As we are going for elections next year, then the information and the media becomes the priority because the credibility of this forthcoming democratic process lies with the media and the way we manage the media will determine the credibility of the elections.”

Alier reiterated that the government’s commitment in creating conducive environment for media to exercise its mandate during the critical times.

“As government as Media Authority, is to ensure that we have conducive media and information environment during this critical time.”

 Maker Joyce, Senior Partnership Officer at the Norwegian People’s Aid said access to information allows for better transparency and accountability of public services.

She said, through information access, citizens will be informed about how they are governed and can be able to hold their government accountable.

“We know that the right for access to information allows for better transparency and accountability of public services and it also makes it easier for you as Journalists and not just Journalists but generally other stakeholders as well such as NGOs and the general citizens.”

“It makes it easier for us all to be able to crosscheck our sources, to identify and uncover any other pertinent issues that affect us in our societies and it is only when citizens know how they are governed is when they can be able to hold their government accountable.”

International Day for Universal Access to Information is celebrated every year on September 28 to remind the government of its primary role in opening civic space and providing necessary information to public.

In Juba, the event coincided with the launch of the website of the South Sudan Access to Information Commission to provide citizens with access to important information and help them hold their government accountable.