Suzan Alphonse of South Sudan Radio. Photo: Michelle Betz/IMS

Some thirty representatives from the media sector, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the South Sudan Police Service (SSPS) met recently to in Juba to discuss how they could improve relations as the country heads to the polls for the first time in over 20 years

For most of those participating in the IMS-facilitated dialogue forum, it was an opportunity to meet one another face to face – for the first time.  Paul Jimbo of the Association of Independent Media said this was the first time such a meeting had been held and that it was long overdue.

“Security forces need the media”

Suzan Alphonse of South Sudan Radio said that if security forces deny the media access, then it is like starving people. 

- We can’t do our work without access and information, she said.

Col. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, head of the SPLA’s Department of Information, Public Relations, Protocol and Ceremonies, said that in the future orders within the military chain of command need to accommodate the media. He added that the security forces “need the media to educate us”, but alled for the media to act responsibly and to be accountable.

- We will take the initiative to try to build better relationships with you [the media] so that you have a better environment in which to do your work, he concluded.

The two-day meeting was held in Juba in the run up to first elections in more than 20 years.

Moving forward

Representatives from the media and security sectors in Juba, Southern Sudan, made the following recommendations following a joint media-security dialogue held 29 - 30 March 2010:

1. Both security and media sectors commit to carrying out their roles responsibly.

2. Security and media commit to improving inter-agency coordination so that policies and responsibilities within each sector are clear.

3. Representatives from media and security called for a joint meeting to be held which would involve representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the media sector and security sector to address press card, accreditation and other issues of relevance.

4. Both formal and informal meetings should continue to take place between the sectors. Paul Jimbo of AIM has committed to arranging such a meeting prior to the elections while Col. Ajok has committed to organising a meeting in the post-election period.

5. Security sector commits to look into the concerns of the media.

6. Both sectors will organise reciprocal visits to media houses and security installations to inform.

7. Both security and media sectors must ensure that they inform their respective colleagues, in both the lower and higher ranks, of the outcome of this meeting and any future such meetings, thereby ensuring improved understanding between the two sectors.