Security agents release detained female journalist in W. Bahr el Ghazal

February 22, 2015 (JUBA) – Security agents in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state have released a female journalist, who was arrested on Friday.

Margret Gitano, who works for Radio Tamazuj as a state correspondent for Western Bahr el Ghazal state, was arrested on Friday evening and detained for more than five hours.

Gitano told Sudan Tribune security agents had confiscated her cell phone and ordered her to return to their office for further investigations.

She said her arrest was linked to an audio interview with former state speaker Andrea Mayar Acho which was broadcast on Saturday as part of a news report.

“I even don’t know what is their logic with me is because if it is a matter of my story, the speaker [has] spoken to many reporters including me here in [state capital] Wau,” said Gitano.

Acho, who had served as speaker since 2005 during the signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which paved the way for South Sudan’s independence, was removed from his post last week after being impeached by the state parliament.

Mario John Nyibang was appointed as his successor on Thursday after elected in a quorum of 27 MPs out of a total sitting 43, although Acho has vowed to contest his removal in the courts.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, Alor Deng Kor, confirmed Gitano’s arrest, saying the union was currently engaged in dialogue with the security office regarding the matter.

(ST)