Kiir tell citizen TV Journalist, Jeff Koinange interviews in an interview what he expects after December polls|Courtesy

South Sudanese journalists have renewed calls for access to President Salva Kiir Mayardit following his interview with Kenya’s Citizen TV, arguing that local media should also be given opportunities to interview the country’s leader.

The debate began before the interview aired after the President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), Oyet Patrick, wrote on social media that the president’s views on “leadership, peace, security and the nation’s future” would first be heard by a Kenyan audience before South Sudanese.

The post attracted reactions from journalists and media practitioners, many questioning why South Sudanese journalists have struggled to secure one-on-one interviews with the president.

Former VOA reporter Shila Modi said her concern was not about who conducted the interview, but “the motive, and whether any interview is necessary with our current situation.”

Former VOA journalist Logonyi Denis Muye revealed that while working for VOA, he personally delivered a formal request for an interview with President Kiir but never received a response. He, however, noted that not all journalists formally request interviews with the Presidency.

Journalist Ayuel Ring Arop remarked that “the fear in us as home-based journalists is why we have never been granted a one-on-one interview with H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” while Alison Wande Jr. questioned why it remains difficult for South Sudan-based journalists to interview the president but easier for foreign reporters.

Commenting on the issue, Jacob Onuha Nelson asked why South Sudan’s state broadcaster, SSBC, had not been given the opportunity to conduct such an interview, describing it as a significant national story that local media should cover.

The discussion follows an engagement meeting held early June between the Presidency and journalists in Juba aimed at improving relations with the media. During that meeting, the Presidential Press Secretary acknowledged concerns over journalists’ limited access to President Kiir and said the Presidency would have to build trust with local media.

While some commentators defended the decision to grant the interview to an international broadcaster, others said the Citizen TV interview has revived broader questions about media access, government openness and the role of South Sudanese journalists in covering national leadership.

The Presidency has not publicly commented on the reactions following the Citizen TV interview.