Photo| By Awan Moses

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces has pledged to address concerns raised by media houses over challenges affecting journalists’ work in the country.

SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Kong made the remarks during an ongoing meeting involving media houses and security organs in Juba.

The three-day conference, which began on Tuesday under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom, Human Rights and Development through Elections,” was organized by the South Sudan Media Authority.

Speaking during the opening session, Gen. Lul said the relationship between the media and security institutions remains important, adding that although organized forces are sometimes accused of interfering with journalists’ work, assessments conducted last year showed improvements in the conduct of the army.

“We in the security sector are sometimes accused of making your work difficult,” he said. “Research has indicated that we have been scoring well, but there are still some areas that need to be corrected, especially within some institutions of the organized forces.”

He said the organized forces include the SSPDF, police, wildlife and other security institutions, adding that some shortcomings still exist.

“Last year we led, this year we did not lead,” he said.

Gen. Lul said the organized forces would work to improve in areas where they have fallen short of expectations from both the media and the international community.

“We promise you on behalf of the organized forces that we will improve in the areas where we are falling short of your expectations and the expectations of the regional and international community,” he said. “We will cooperate with you, but continue guiding us where we are going wrong.”

He said cooperation between the media and security institutions was necessary in order to improve performance and strengthen relations.

“The only way to do this is through working together,” he said.

Meanwhile, the army spokesperson said the organized forces view journalists as partners who help highlight positive work being carried out by security institutions.

“We look at you not as people spying on us using gadgets, but as people identifying the best in us, magnifying it, and sharing it with the rest of the public,” he said.

Gen. Lul also said the organized forces would provide space for journalists to carry out their work freely while encouraging balanced reporting.