The Voice of America is deeply concerned about the continued detention of our English to Africa language service freelance journalist Diing Magot, working for our South Sudan in Focus program. She was detained on August 7, while covering a protest in the Konyokonyo market in Juba, South Sudan. Magot was initially taken to the Malakia police station after her arrest. While we promptly provided the South Sudan Media Authority a letter they demanded confirming her status as a VOA freelancer on assignment for us, she was transferred to the Juba Central Prison on August 9, according to the South Sudan Union of Journalists. We were expecting her prompt release, but she continues to be detained.
We are extremely dismayed by this most recent turn of events and are asking the South Sudan authorities for Diing Magot’s immediate release.
