South Sudan: Diing Magot Arrested While Covering Anti-Inflation Protest For Voice Of America
Location: South SudanDate: August 7, 2022
South Sudanese authorities arrested Diing Magot, a reporter on assignment for United States Congress funded broadcaster Voice of America, in the capital Juba. Diing was arrested along with several demonstrators at the site. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Diing and calls for her immediate release. We urge South Sudanese authorities to ensure press freedom and restrain from obstructing reporters covering issues of public interest. We condemn the arrest and reiterate that no country can hope to prosper without a robust independent press.
On August 7, freelance journalist Diing went to cover a protest in Juba’s Konyo Konyo Market against the high cost of living in the country. However, she was prevented from doing her job when the police reacted with excessive force to stop the demonstration, resorting to aerial fire at the site to disperse the protestors and arresting several of them. The journalist was arrested along with some of the protesters and shifted to Malakia Police Station.
"She is in a state of shock, and she does not understand what is really happening and what offenses she has committed." a colleague of Diing told a local newspaper. "Diing was in good spirits because she thought it was one of the minor frictions between the media and the police."
“Her hair has been shaved and when the police arrested Diing and took her to interrogation, she was slightly beaten and slapped. But until now, it is not clear when they are taking Diing to court and when the police investigation is going to end.” her colleague continued.
Journalism is not for coward people. You got to be brave to be a journalist. When I met #DiingMagot earlier today, I asked her how she was feeling and she told me she was okay. She told me fear was nolonger part of her #applynow #joinMDI #JournalismIsNotACrime #ReleaseDiingMagot pic.twitter.com/Xq6JZ4LaEZ
— Irene Ayaa (@IreneAyaa) August 11, 2022
Regardless of her condition, our sister Diing Magot continues to smile. It's this smile on her face that encourages us the most to fight firmly for her rights together with her colleagues. I'm glad to have spoken to her adequately. #JournalismIsNotACrime #Freekonyokonyo7 pic.twitter.com/rbQdnZ20mu
— David Ayuel (@AyuelDavid) August 10, 2022
Diing is waiting for an investigation with an unknown end date. Since that, in some local reports, the country's attorney general had granted police approval to hold her additional days above the initial 24 hours afforded under the law. It's assumed that Diing transferred to Juba Central Prison, and she only was charged with possessing a recorder, according to the local media groups and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Diing did not have her press identification with her when she was arrested. Still, the South Sudan Media Authority, the country’s media regulator, asked for a VOA letter confirming that she is a freelance journalist. She was there on assignment, which did after, but she was not released or allowed to meet the team of lawyers assembled to represent her, according to the VOA and UJOSS statements.
The US embassy in Juba called on authorities to release Diing, and stressed on the right of journalists to seek information and share their findings with citizens. However, Diing remains under detention without due process.
South Sudan has a history of limiting journalists and freedom of the press when authorities disapprove of their work. Last February, the National Security Service intelligence agency officers arrested eight journalists at the national parliament in Juba premises. They seized their recording devices while covering a press conference that included members of opposition parties.
On August 15, South Sudanese authorities released Diing on bail after she spent eight days in detention. The authorities had charged her with crimes related to her alleged participation in a protest. The Collation For Women In Journalism was relieved to report. However, we still reiterate that her arrest was wrongful and call on the authorities to allow journalists to report freely without fear of govt reprisal.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism was extremely distressed over the arrest of Diing Magot. We condemned the arrest and stood in solidarity with the journalist who was only doing her job. The CFWIJ demanded Diing’s immediate release. CFWIJ called and reiterated calling on the South Sudanese authorities to ensure that journalists are free to report independently on matters of public interest without fear of government reprisal.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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