Journalist Christopher Allen in South Sudan. (File photo).

The United States and the United Kingdom have commended the formation of a team to investigate the circumstances under which journalist Christopher Allen was killed in 2017 and called for a credible and transparent process.

In a press statement on Friday, the two countries, where Allen is a citizen, said the investigation launched six years later by Cabinet Minister Dr. Martin Elia is a step in the right direction.

“The transitional government’s formation of a committee to investigate the death of journalist Christopher Allen more than six years after his death on August 26, 2017, is a long-awaited step in the right direction,” read the statement.

It added that the formation of a committee must be followed by a “thorough investigation that is credible”, and “its findings must be made public and lead to accountability.”

Christoper Allen, a British-American freelance journalist was killed in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, in August 2017.

The 26-year-old was shot dead on the front line while covering clashes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in Kaya town of Morobo County, Central Equatoria State.

The South Sudan government on Monday formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the death of Allen, whose family and home countries have long demanded answers.