[Juba, South Sudan, TCT] South Sudan’s Media Authority on Friday suspended the operations of UN-aided Radio Miraya after citing failure of the radio to acquire vital operation licenses. Elijah Alier Kuai, managing director of the media authority, told journalists in Juba that the decision was made after two - weeks notice for registration deadline elapsed.
[Juba, South Sudan, TCT] South Sudan’s Media Authority on Friday suspended the operations of UN-aided Radio Miraya after citing failure of the radio to acquire vital operation licenses. Elijah Alier Kuai, managing director of the media authority, told journalists in Juba that the decision was made after two - weeks notice for registration deadline elapsed.
"the operation of Radio Miraya is suspended including its website, coverage or anything to do with the media at the moment”, Alier said as he addresses journalists in Juba. He added that the suspension is immediately with effect from Friday March 9, 2018.
The managing director of the media regulatory body also emphasised that based on the order of suspension, all the journalists working under Radio Miraya are not allowed to cover any news stories or any occasion outside UNMISS.
Section 34(1) of the media authority act 2013, says "a person shall not provide broadcasting service except in accordance with a valid broadcasting license."
According to Mr. Alier, the suspension letter has been dispatched to Radio Miraya 101 FM after numerous notifications begining from June, September and November 2017, and February 2018, but the management of the radio declined to respond. The order accussed Radio Miraray for persistent non compliance.
The media authority has also requested National Communication Authority (NCA) to withdraw the frequency 101 FM allocated to Miraya FM under UNMISS for non-compliance.
UNMISS spokesperson said the mission is preparing a response to the suspension order. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan Radio Miriya has been in operation since 2006 after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the longest civil war in the continent.
