On 3 September 2021, a number of embassies (US, UK, EU, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden) issued a joint statement, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States which took place on 30 August 2021, to express their concerns over violence against protesters, harassment of journalists and media organisations as well as arrests of civil society representatives.

The joint statement was issued on the same day Amnesty International NGO called on the South Sudanese government to end what it called a “new wave of repression”. 

South Sudan, which gained its independence in 2011 from Sudan, has a history of limiting freedom of the press, including harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists when authorities disapprove of their work.. 

Three media workers were arrested on 27 August and some radio stations were shut down. Rights groups also reported internet disruptions ahead of civil protests that took place on 30 August.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “The South Sudanese Government must comply with its obligations regarding human rights and press freedom. We remain vigilant to ensure that the recent attacks against media freedom are not repeated."