Journalist Adil Released after Nearly 2 Weeks in Detention

A freelance journalist who was arrested in South Sudan’s capital late last month has been released from the detention center of the National Security Service (NSS). Adil Faris Mayat, a freelance journalist and former director of the country’s public broadcaster, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, was arrested on 23 January under unclear circumstances. Last week, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) in Juba called on the authorities to expedite their investigations, grant Faris access to his family and lawyer, and adhere to the legal procedures outlined in the constitution…Human rights organizations have repeatedly urged the South Sudanese government to limit the NSS’s powers to intelligence gathering, as stipulated in the Transitional Constitution…The agency also continues to detain Emmanuel Monychol, the editor-in-chief of Juba’s daily English-language newspaper, The Dawn. Last year, South Sudan ranked 136th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Although any detainee must be brought before a judge within 24 hours according to the country’s constitution, this rarely happens. (Radio Tamazuj)