Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the government of South Sudan on press freedom following the detention of journalists covering a media briefing by legislators on 22 February 2022.

We are concerned by the detention of eight journalists and civil society activists during a press conference hosted by a Member of Parliament in Juba on 22 February. Freedom of expression has an essential role to play in the establishment of peace and stability in South Sudan. We engage with the Government of South Sudan to urge them to protect human rights and to ensure that journalists, human rights activists and civil society are free to operate without fear of retribution. We regularly raise the importance of freedom of expression both publicly and privately. In support of the UK's Media Freedom Campaign we also provide assistance to journalists, including those detained or harassed by the government, and media associations in South Sudan.