Civil society activist Edmund Yakani addresses mourners during the funeral prayer service for the late Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile in Juba on Saturday, January 10, 2026. [Photo: Eye Radio]

Prominent civil society activist Edmund Yakani has strongly criticized South Sudan’s leadership, accusing them of greed for power and poor governance, which he said has led to the loss of many civilian lives.

Yakani made the remarks on Saturday [January 10, 2026] while addressing mourners during the memorial service of Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile in Juba. The event was attended by journalists, civil society members, family, and mourners from different parts of the country.

In an emotional address, Yakani said the continued deaths of civilians point to a serious failure of leadership. He argued that those in power have focused more on control and personal interests than on the safety and wellbeing of citizens.

“Our leaders have given guns to the people to kill themselves instead of providing basic services,” Yakani said. He blamed insecurity, weak institutions, and the lack of social services on poor governance.

Yakani also linked Akile’s death to the country’s fragile health system, saying the absence of adequate medical facilities continues to claim lives that could otherwise be saved. He said ordinary citizens lack access to quality healthcare, while political elites receive better treatment.

“If Akile were the son of a politician, he would have been rushed out of the country for advanced treatment,” Yakani said, adding that many South Sudanese die not because their illnesses cannot be treated, but because the health system is unable to respond.

He described Akile as a committed journalist who served the public with courage and professionalism, and said his death should be a wake-up call for authorities to invest in healthcare, peace, and human security.

Emmanuel Joseph Akile, a senior journalist with Eye Radio, died on 30 December 2025 after a short illness. His death shocked the media fraternity and the public, with many remembering him as a strong voice for accountability and public-interest journalism.

Yakani urged the country’s leaders to honour Akile’s legacy by changing course, ending violence, and prioritizing the lives and dignity of citizens over political power.