VOA statement on arrest of its freelance journalist in Juba, South Sudan
We are extremely distressed by the arrest of Diing Magot, a VOA freelance journalist for our English to Africa language service on our South Sudan in Focus program, over this past weekend. Magot was covering a protest over the hardships and skyrocketing commodity prices there. She was arrested alongside the protestors in Konyokonyo Market, as she did not have her ID or press card with her, and she was initially detained at the Malakia police station. To obtain her release, the South Sudan Media Authority demanded a letter from VOA, confirming she is our freelance journalist and she was there on assignment. We have provided the letter to the Media Authority, and we had expected word of her immediate release. However, according to a lawyer with the South Sudan Union of Journalists, Diing Magot and five protesters were relocated to Juba Central Prison. Magot is waiting for a court date. We are asking South Sudan authorities for the immediate release of our journalist.
About the USAGM
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent international media organization overseen and funded by the US government, puts objective, professional news and information content to work on behalf of U.S. global interests and national security. USAGM networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) and the Open Technology Fund. USAGM programming has a measured audience of 420 million in more than 100 countries and in 64 languages.
Find out more
Contact Bridget Serchak
Director of Public Relations, Office of Public Relations
- publicrelations@voanews.com
- (202) 203-4959