S. Sudanese government condemns killing of journalist

August 25, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government condemned the killing last week of a journalist by unknown gunmen, describing the incident as “unfortunate.”

Moi Peter Julius was shot dead last week as he returned home from work. Nobody has, however, been arrested in connection with the shooting which occurred days after President Salva Kiir threatened journalists critical of his regime.

South Sudan’s information minister Michael Makuei claimed the president was quoted out of context, strongly denying any intention to target journalists in the young nation.

“I should also inform you that all the people who are dying here in Juba being killed by the criminals, [they] are not being killed by the government,” he told reporters Tuesday.

“The fact that the journalist became unfortunate and he died, shot by the unknown criminals does not necessarily mean that is the government who killed him,” he said.

The presidency also refuted claims that statement attributed to the South Sudanese leader contributed to Moi’s death. On Saturday, President Kiir’s office dismissed the interpretation of his statement and claimed there was freedom of press in the country.

The information minister stressed that government condemned the attack on reporters.

“The government condemned it [the killing of journalist Peter Moi] from day one or you want it to be condemned by me. The minister of justice condemned it,” he said.

(ST)