This month, South Sudanese online users were woken up with shocking news of sexual exploitation in Juba Prison and the Director spoke to Eye Radio over these allegations.

In an hour and two-minute video shared on social media on the 27th of January 2024, Akon Akuei Ajou accused two prison officials of sexual exploitation resulting in her pregnancy.

Akon alleges that she is now five months pregnant from the male warders that hold the keys to the female section at the prison.

Eye Radio’s Gender reporter, Michael Daniel sat down with the Director of the Juba National Prison, Lt Gen Atok Atem to respond to allegations of sexual exploitation by prison warders.

Michael Daniel: What do you say about the allegation of sexual exploitation raised by one of the female inmates?

Lt Gen Atem: When I came to the office, I found that woman pregnant and she accused a female prison warder of being behind it. so, I want to show the world how the prison works, the female prison is run by officers but when it comes to closing the wards there is a committee that goes from cell to cell and the keys are kept in a box, so, in the female prison, there are women who work in the morning and night shift, they prepare to close wards together with the male warders, so, in the female prison, there are no men that work there, it is all women working there.

Michael Daniel: In the video, Akon alleges that she was taken by a female warder, drugged, and raped by three men in a clinic inside the prison, is this true?

Lt Gen Atem: As she stated, she was admitted to the hospital on 11th August…September 2023 and was taken by a woman called Sana, Sana is a very strict person and she [Akon] does not like her which is why she mentioned her name in the video and said that she was injected and drugged, and when she woke up she found three men in front of her, how can a normal person say something like that, and how can three men sleep with a person at the same time?

Michael Daniel: When did the administration of the prison notice Akon is pregnant?

Lt Gen Atem: We saw she was gaining weight, so the prison administration decided to take her for a checkup and scanning. She was taken to the hospital and they found out she was pregnant, then she [Akon] was taken to Juba Teaching Hospital for scanning, and it showed that she was 5 months and five days pregnant. When we started investigating how she got pregnant inside the prison, then she started doing that video, after coming from the hospital.

Michale Daniel: What action did the prison administration take to make sure this matter is addressed and doesn’t happen if it turns out to be true?

Lt Gen Atem: We have formed a committee to find facts. We will go to the hospital and ask people working there and check the record book to see who visited her and any treatment that was given to her, so, we have a committee to develop the facts but I am sure she [Akon] is doing this to put these people in a problem. The committee will submit its report in 3 days.

The post What Juba Prison Director tells Eye Radio on alleged sex abuse first appeared on Eye Radio.

In September 2023, a representative of South Sudanese students in Rwanda told Eye Radio that they were being mistreated allegedly by the immigration officers at the border of Rwanda with Uganda.

When contacted by Eye Radio, South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Simon Juac Deng who is also representing the country in Rwanda and Burundi said he would confirm with the concerned official in Rwanda.

In an exclusive interview with Eye Radio on Friday, October 6, Amb Juac explains the right procedures for South Sudanese who want to travel to Rwanda.

He advised South Sudanese against the use of a travel document to cross East African countries.

Amb. Juac pointed out that those travelling to Rwanda via Kampala without a passport to obtain another temporary pass to avoid detention.

Here is the full interview with Amb. Simon Juac.

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

The post Interview: Amb Juac explains procedures for S. Sudanese travelling to Rwanda first appeared on Eye Radio.

The minister of information Michael Makuei Lueth on Monday announced to the media that the council of ministers has approved the cleaning and clearing of rivers for navigation in the country.

The government spokesperson also said the council of ministers has resolved that the cleaning and clearing of the river Nile will only take place after thorough studies have been conducted.

Speaking to the media after an extraordinary meeting of the council of ministers on Monday, Makuei explained to journalists the difference between dredging, cleaning, and clearing rivers.

The post Makuei explains differences between river clearing and dredging first appeared on Eye Radio.

In 2018, the United Nations Security Council passed a measure aimed at stopping the flow of weapons to armed groups in South Sudan.

The members in favour said it would protect civilians, while abstainers voiced concerns that it would undermine the ongoing peace process in the country.

The outgoing Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Juba, David Renz said his government wants to see the unity government fully implement the peace agreement.

During his farewell remarks at a press conference in Juba on Thursday, the U.S. diplomat said if Juba wants the arms embargo lifted, Juba must graduate the necessary unified forces, complete transitional period, hold elections that are free, fair, credible and democratic, and swear-in the President elect.

The post US explains why is against lifting South Sudan’s arms embargo first appeared on Eye Radio.

The wrestling matches between Central Equatoria and Jonglei states ended in a dramatic draw over the weekend.

The matches – attended by thousands of supporters – was held in Terekeka County on Saturday.

Dozens of wrestlers from Central Equatoria and Jonglei participated in the friendly competition.

About 25 wrestlers from each state were lined up to participate in the match.

However, only 9 rounds were played after the match ended in a dramatic draw.

This came after Jonglei wrestlers claimed they had run short of participants.

Central Equatoria wrestlers were four points down but came from behind to equalize in a consecutive win.

Bilal James Jambo, the deputy chairperson of the organizing committee explained why the match ended early.

“As one of the people in charge, I’m very happy because the sons and daughters of South Sudan have united for this wrestling,” Bilal James told Eye Radio.

“The number of Jonglei wrestlers was not enough so we had to call off the matches, but they were very happy to participate in this wrestling match,

“As the wrestling committee, we welcome any effort to bring people together, we also heard that wrestlers from Lakes state want to take on those in Terekeka, this is a welcomed move.”

For his part, Swoka Clement David, the information secretary of Equator wrestling and dancing association in Central Equatoria state said, the matches united the two communities.

“Our intention to organize this is to promote peace which is in the spirit of South Sudanese that they want to live in peace,” Clement told Eye Radio.

“As you have seen, the population of people from Lakes state they came to attend, people from Jonglei state, people from Juba, not only those who are participating in wrestling, but those peace lovers are with us today.”

The national referee of wrestling is calling for the establishment of a national wrestling federation in the country.

Salva Two says this will help unit the wrestling communities in South Sudan.

He made the remarks after the Terekeka and Bor wrestling over the weekend.

Salva Two described the wrestling as ‘peaceful and friendly.

“We joined our hands and we came together. Not only Riek Machar and Salva Kiir make peace alone, we on the ground, we make peace, this is my message to South Sudanese,”Salva told Eye Radio.

“The game ended with a draw, Terekeka have peace and South Sudan has peace.”

The wrestling for peace event was also attended by government officials, including members of parliament from the two areas.

Central Equatoria state minister of youth and sports, Rita Dominic Jada witnessed the event.

Speaking to reporters following the tournament, Minister Rita said, young people should engage in sports to discourage tribalism.

This year’s wrestling competition in Terekeka witnessed a huge turnout of spectators.

Wrestling is a popular sport among many pastoralist communities in South Sudan.

The wrestling competition is mainly practiced by the communities of Lakes, Jonglei, and Central Equatoria.

The post Here’s why wrestling match in Terekeka ended in dramatic draw first appeared on Eye Radio.

For his work as a journalist in Rumbek – South Sudan, John Wulu was subjected to arrest, jail, and a 10-year ban from practising journalism because of his reporting.

Wulu, who hails from Wulu County of Lakes State is the current Station Manager of Top FM in the capital, Juba.

The 41-year-old journalist received his first journalism training in 1996 after being trained by BBC for 9 months in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 2007, he became a Radio Rumbek reporter in Wulu County of Lakes State.

Until 2008, Wulu used to record events using Tape and ride a bicycle for about 51 km to submit his stories for broadcast at Radio Rumbek.

Eye Radio reporter, Charles Wote caught up with him on the observance of World Press Freedom day – Wednesday May 3, 2022.

Wulu started by highlighting his journalism career and how he suffered arrests and detentions and this is what he had to say.

Clip ……………………. John Wulu 01

In part two of the interview, Wulu talked about what is required to promote free press in South Sudan.

Clip ……………………. John Wulu 02

The post Meet John Wulu, journalist once banned from practising journalism first appeared on Eye Radio.

The great-grandson of King Gbudue, Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue was installed as the Azande King in Yambio, Western Eqautoria State on Gbudue day – February  9, 2022.

The Azande Kingdom was restored 117 years after the British killed King Gbudue in 1905.

During his rule, Gbudue faced incursions from ivory and slave traders, Egyptian Government officials, officials in the Mahdia, British and Belgium forces—as well as participating in internal Zande wars.

He was killed during a British patrol led by Major Boulnois in February 1905.

However, there are different versions of Gbudue’s death.

The anthropologist Evans-Pritchard, an Englishman, put together various accounts, based on Zande oral histories collected during doctoral research between 1926 and 1930.

These suggest that Gbudue was shot in the arm when the patrol entered his homestead.

He then shot three members of the patrol and injured a donkey that had been brought to transport him to the military post at Birekiwe, the original name of the current Yambio County.

In doing so, the British soldiers were forced to carry Gbudue on a stretcher to a hut where he was put under guard and succumbed to his injuries. Some accounts suggest he died alone, others that one of his wives, a daughter of Tangili, was with him

After his death, the Anglo-Egyptian military administration received intelligence that some of Gbudue’s sons were planning an armed revolt and in January 1914, Mange, Basongoda, Mopoi and Gangura were sent as prisoners to Wau and on to Khartoum.

With the exception of Basongodo, who died in Wau, they were eventually released and returned home.

Ever since his demise, the Azande has never had a successor for more than a century.

In an exclusive interview with Eye Radio’s journalist, Obaj Okuj, King Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue disclosed the reason why it took Azande 117 years to restore Azande Kingdom…

The post INTERVIEW: Why it took Azande 117yrs to restore the Kingdom after British killed Gbudue first appeared on Eye Radio.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR – CCCM Cluster Coordinator Uzma Ahmed and Rural Community Empowerment Executive, Ester Yom Mangar – talks to Eye Radio about the humanitarian situation at Mangalla IDP camps.

In the interview, Uzma Ahmed and Ester Yom, highlighted the important of having women as humanitarian workers with specific focus on Camp Coordination and Camp Management.

Uzma Ahmed and Ester Yom Mangar speak to Eye Radio’s Okot Emmanuel.

Clip 1:

Clip 2:

The post UNHCR speaks on humanitarian situation in Mangalla IDPs camps first appeared on Eye Radio.

Joseph Obwony, South Sudan’s best student in the 2020 Secondary School Leaving Examinations has appealed for support to pursue his studies.

Despite coming from a humble background, Obwony scored an impressive 95.1% in the recently released results of the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education.

In an interview with Eye Radio reporter, William Ronyo, the top student explained why he is appealing to well-wishers to assist him  achieve his dreams.

The post Joseph Obwony, 2020 best student speaks out appeared first on Eye Radio.