Smokescreens and Silenced Voices in Juba

December 01, 2025 – South Sudan –

A journalist from South Sudan Media, identified as Santo Jal Dut, was arrested late Monday while livestreaming a massive fire that consumed part of Juba’s Custom Market — an incident that has renewed alarm over media suppression in South Sudan. The blaze erupted near the premises of the state-owned broadcaster, engulfing traders’ shops and leaving many without livelihoods.

As flames raged, Dut used his phone to broadcast critical footage of the unfolding disaster. He publicly questioned why emergency services had yet to arrive, suggested the fire might have been deliberately set, and challenged authorities, saying if they intended to arrest him, they should “come and arrest me.” That moment appears to have triggered the intervention. Shortly after, security forces arrested him, seized his phone, and abruptly ended the live feed. Witnesses report hearing a soldier announce they were “looking for” the person livestreaming before the video went offline.

So far, no formal charges have been disclosed, and legal representatives say they have been barred from seeing him. According to South Sudan Media, this constitutes a blatant breach of due process. The outlet is calling for Dut’s immediate and unconditional release, full disclosure of any allegations, and unhindered access to his family and counsel.

The event has reverberated across local and international press-freedom circles. Many view Dut’s arrest not as an isolated event, but as part of a troubling trend: the use of state power to intimidate journalists covering issues of public interest. Observers warn that such a crackdown undermines transparency and civic accountability — especially in a country where independent reporting is often the only means to bring attention to emergencies, injustice, or abuse.

With uncertainty over Dut’s whereabouts and no official explanation, the case casts a shadow over the personal safety of journalists in South Sudan. It reminds us that when covering tragedy becomes a crime, the victims multiply — not just the fire’s direct victims, but every citizen robbed of truth.

Reference – 

South Sudan journalist arrested while livestreaming Juba market fire, media group says