Will independence improve press freedom in South Sudan?

South Sudan is set to declare its independence from Khartoum on July 9, 2011.

The citizens of the world’s newest nation have enormously high hopes for the future of their country. On July 9 a new anthem will be sung and a new flag will be raised, but essentially the country is starting from scratch.

Peace and security remain fragile and the international community will have to ensure that South Sudan does not become another failed state.

Against this background, will press freedom and conditions for journalists in a new South Sudan improve? Last year Sudan was again ranked as one of the worst countries in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.

Press freedom in South Sudan was one of the major topics debated at the recent Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. Here are few interesting points that emerged:

• Josephine Achiro, Programs Manager of Radio Bakhita, one of the most widely listened to radio stations in South Sudan said journalists are facing a lot of harrassment from security services and politicians. She also drew attention to the fact that international journalists have significantly more press freedom and access to politicians in South Sudan than local journalists.
• Kerstin Müller, Member of the German Parliament and Deputy Chairwoman of the Subcommittee for Civilian Crisis Prevention, said South Sudan first needs to build the structures that are needed for a democratic society and the international community needs to insist on a free media. Müller added that the Government of South Sudan needs to deliver on its promises.
• Manuela Römer, Media Trainer und Project Manager for South Sudan for the DW-Akademie, stressed that the media in South Sudan is perceived very negatively by authorities. Free media is “feared” and is seen as something which needs to be controlled. Römer pointed to the importance of engaging in a real dialogue on the role of the media – both with journalists and state officials. The DW-Akademie is therefore not only training journalists but also various other stakeholders, including officials in South Sudan’s Ministry of Information.

You can listen below to the full session and read more on this topic from DW’s Chiponda Chimbelu.

W21 – Promoting press freedom in Africa’s newest country – South Sudan by dwgmf