Minister of Information Ateny Wek Ateny speaks at his reception at Telecom House, Gumbo-Sherikat, on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Photo credit: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

The Minister of Information has called for collective efforts to combat harmful content on social media, warning that disinformation and hate speech continue to undermine peace-building efforts in the country.

Speaking during the ongoing National Conference on Countering Hate Speech and Promoting Social Cohesion in Juba on Monday morning, Minister Ateny Wek Ateny said social media platforms are increasingly being used to spread misinformation and distort information meant for public consumption.

Ateny, who is also the government’s official spokesperson, urged media houses and journalists to exercise due diligence and professionalism when disseminating information to the public, emphasizing their critical role in promoting peace and unity.

“In this digital age, we must enhance our capacity to responsibly monitor media spaces, identify harmful content, early counter disinformation, and promote credible peace-building narratives,” Ateny said.

“This requires working closely with media practitioners, civil society, and relevant technology stakeholders. The future of South Sudan depends not only on our laws and institutions, but also on the words we speak and the messages we amplify.”

The conference has brought together 39 delegates from the ten states of South Sudan and the three administrative areas.

According to the organizers, the event will also be joined at the national level by 111 representatives drawn from government institutions, media houses, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, as well as youth- and women-led organizations.

The conference aims to strengthen national efforts to counter hate speech and promote social cohesion across the country.