The coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to South Sudan would bring together around 300 media professionals from 69 different houses in Juba.
While urging journalists to be “ethical” in their reporting, the Media Authority reported on January 31 that they have accredited 291 media professionals from 32 nations 99 of whom will be the Vatican press team
According to MA Director General for Information and Compliance Sapana Abui, 86 national journalists have received accreditation so far, including 16 from the national broadcaster, SSBC, seven from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), and 17 from the Presidential Press Unit. Six positions were also given to communication officers from foreign consulates and Embassies by the authorities.
The minister of information is urging reporters who will be in Juba to cover Pope Francis’ visit to present a more positive picture of South Sudan to the outside world. In reference to the “conducive” atmosphere before the pope’s visit, which is scheduled for Friday this week, he claimed that South Sudan is currently at peace.
During the papal visit media briefing in Juba this morning, Makuei was speaking to both foreign and domestic journalists.
“In the outside world, there have been many claims made that South Sudan is a hostile country where people are killed on the streets of Juba. But now that you’re here, it’s up to you to demonstrate whether or not all of those things that were written about South Sudan were accurate,” he said
If South Sudan is unstable, “there would have been no reason for the Holy See and his brothers to come to South Sudan,” Makuei told the journalists, some of whom are foreign nationals.
The spokesperson for the administration stated that the arrival of Pope Francis is a fantastic opportunity for the international media to visit South Sudan and provide a fact-based narrative.
In order to cover Pope Francis’ presence and the events that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Moderator-General of the Church of Scotland, and other dignitaries will be attending, more than 120 foreign journalists will be in the nation as of this coming Friday.