Government of South Sudan shuts down Catholic radio station

Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) Secretary-General, Fr Jacob Odwa, has said that the closure of Juba's Catholic-owned radio station, Bakhita Radio, by the South Sudanese Government is "just unfortunate”.

Fr Odwa told South Sudan’s Catholic Radio Network (CRN) that Church authorities are seeking dialogue with the Government of South Sudan to find an amicable way forward.

He said there should be a mechanism or forum for addressing issues of concern over broadcast items rather than shutting them down. He described as unfortunate the closure of Bakhita Radio which he termed as the voice of the Church in South Sudan. Fr. Odwa has further deplored the detention of Bakhita Radio’s editor, Ocen David Nicholas by the National Security Service.

South Sudan National Security Service last Saturday stormed Bakhita Radio station in Juba, shutting it down, arresting several journalists, releasing others and continue detaining its editor who read the morning news of that day.

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