Emmanuel Monychol Akop, editor-in-chief of *The Dawn* daily newspaper in Juba, was released on June 12 after being held for six months by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) without charge or public explanation.
His arrest, which took place on 28 November 2024 at his office by officers believed to be from the NSS, was executed without a warrant, and his whereabouts remained unknown until his unexpected release.
Akop’s detention has reignited concerns over South Sudan’s disregard for due process, with the country’s constitution mandating court appearance within 24 hours of arrest and limiting pretrial detention to six months unless sanctioned by a court. His case is not isolated—Akop was previously arrested in 2019 for a social media post criticizing a government minister’s clothing. Though now released, press advocates and civil society actors say the latest episode illustrates a disturbing pattern of arbitrary detention and suppression of media freedom.
While the Union of Journalists of South Sudan and civil rights groups welcomed Akop’s release, they condemned the prolonged detention as a violation of human rights and legal norms. Civil society activist Edmund Yakani described the incident as a “clear undermining of the rule of law” and called on the NSS to respect constitutional rights. The NSS has yet to formally comment on the reasons behind Akop’s detention, with spokesperson John David Kumuri indicating that further clarification would be sought from officials. Rights organizations continue to criticize the broad powers granted to the NSS under the National Security Service Act, warning that it facilitates unchecked detentions and infringes on press freedom.