South Sudan editor Emmanuel Monychol Akop detained without charge by intelligence agents

Kampala, December 19, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on South Sudan’s authorities to reveal  the whereabouts of Emmanuel Monychol Akop, editor-in-chief of the privately owned The Dawn newspaper, who has been detained since November 28 by agents of the National Security Services (NSS), South Sudan’s intelligence agency.

“South Sudanese authorities must bring editor Emmanuel Monychol Akop before a court, present credible charges or release him unconditionally,” said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, in New York. “South Sudan’s security agents have a reputation for running roughshod over the rights of journalists, and the arbitrary detention of Monychol further tarnishes an already dismal press freedom record.”

Monychol was arrested after he responded to a summons to appear at NSS headquarters in the capital, Juba, according to Moses Guot, a manager at The Dawn, and a person familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal. The NSS told Monychol’s family that they could not visit the journalist until investigations were complete but did not provide further details, Guot told CPJ. Rights groups have documented multiple allegations of abusing detainees in the NSS headquarters, known as Blue House.

“We are worried about his personal security,” said Guot. “They should allow us to see him, at least to know about his health, and that would be a good start.” 

NSS spokesperson John David Kumuri did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment via messaging app but acknowledged its receipt on December 10. The regulatory South Sudan Media Authority’s managing director Elijah Alier Kuai did not respond to CPJ’s requests for comment via phone and messaging app. Phone calls to information minister Michael Makuei Lueth and the South Sudan Media Authority’s director general for information and media compliance Sapana Abuyi did not connect. 

In 2019, Monychol was arrested after he published a Facebook post criticizing a minister’s dress on a diplomatic visit. He was detained for over a month and freed in mid-December of that year.