April 15th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The United Nation sponsored Radio Miraya is still open more than one month after the government ordered its closure after the government complained that the most-listened Radio station in the country failed to comply with an earlier government order.
On 9th of March this year, the country’s media authority ordered the closure of the independent UN Radio and immediately “cease broadcasts” for failing to comply with the country’s broadcast laws.
On Friday, the United Nation Mission in South Sudan spokeswoman Francesca Mold told the Radio Tamazuj that Radio Miraya continues to broadcast despite government directives ton cease operation.
“Radio Miraya is continuing to broadcast on the frequency that it was formally allocated by the government in 2006” she said adding that the broadcast only faces “is experiencing som intermittent interference with transmission in some parts of Juba”
Under the Status of Forces Agreement, the United Nations and the South Sudan government agreed that the UNMISS has the right to operate stations under its “exclusive control” and to convey information to the public relating to its mandate.
The spokeswoman revealed that the UN headquarters in New York had directed the Radio station to continue to broadcast saying the government order to close the station is inconsistent with the Status of Forces Agreement.
The media landscape in South Sudan has suffered serious setbacks due to the government efforts that undermine media freedom in the country.
In 2017, South Sudan government closed down the internet space for the Nyamilepedia, Sudan Tribune, Radio Tamazuj and PaanLuel Wel. However these websites still operate in some foreign embassies and diplomatic office and in areas with internet access that is not controlled by the government.
