The South Sudan Media Authority launched its official website.
On Wednesday, 21st May 2025, at Telecom House, Gumbo-Shirkat in Juba, the management of the Media Authority launched its official website under the theme “Refer to the Source.”
During the launch, the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services (MICT&PS), Hon. Gen. David Yau Yau appreciated the Managing Director of Media Authority and his team for the great work done and recognized the development partners like the Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) for tremendous support. He added, “This marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to foster transparent and accessible communication within our nation.”
The Hon. Deputy Minister further asserted that this digital platform will serve as a vital conduit for information, ensuring that official government pronouncements are readily available to the public. He appealed to all government institutions to transition from private email addresses and adopt official government email systems, as it is a matter of security, professionalism, and ensuring the integrity of official communications.
The Managing Director of the Media Authority, Hon. Ellijah Alier Kuai, reminded everyone to embrace digital media and mobile journalism as powerful tools for enhancing reporting capabilities and a comprehensive resource portal addressing media regulatory issues. “However, these technologies also present new challenges in the fight against misinformation. With the ease of sharing information online, it is more important to ‘Refer to the Source’ and to verify the accuracy of what we read and share.” He added
Hon. Elijah Alier said that this website represents a crucial step forward in fulfilling the Media Authority’s mandate to regulate and promote the development of a pluralistic media landscape in our country. It serves as a vital tool to connect media practitioners, regulators, and the public, fostering a transparent and open flow of information. He added that everyone is encouraged to “Refer to the Source” in order to combat misinformation and promote the integrity of news and information circulating within our society.
In the same development, the Director for Technical Service in the National Communication Authority (NCA), Mr. Papiti Okwaci, gave his remarks on behalf of the Director General of NCA, Hon. Gieth Kon Mathiang, congratulating the Media Authority for the important achievement. This launch is more than the unveiling of a website; it is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to open governance, responsible communication, and protection of public trust. “As the regulator overseeing domain name registration for government institutions in South Sudan, the NCA is proud to support this initiative”.
He encourages all government ministries, commissions, and public institutions to establish official websites under ‘.gov.ss’ domains. This is not merely a technical preference but a strategic safeguard for national integrity.
With anticipation from the participants, the chief technology officer of CODELABS Co. Ltd., Mr. Mading Ruben, the South Sudanese company behind the website, stepped forward. He portrays the site as a smooth, secure, and dynamic platform. Built to be responsive across devices, the website includes resources for journalists’ accreditation, access to official media regulations, a repository of documents, and tools for public feedback. “This is not just a website,” he said. it is a symbol of our country’s readiness to solve its challenges.”
The audience applauded. There was pride in knowing the website was developed by local experts and that South Sudan was stepping into the digital era on its terms. Questions and suggestions from the audience followed, from requests for multilingual support to concerns about fact-checking and email security. Each was met with technical assurance and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Tony, a cybersecurity expert from the Digital Rights Frontline (DRF), discussed the broader digital safety initiatives in progress, including the verification of government social media accounts. He highlighted how a proper digital presence reduces impersonation, counters misinformation, and enhances communication between the government and its citizens.
The launch included participation from high-ranking government officials, the President's Office Press Secretary, the UNESCO Country Director, representatives of civil society organizations, media partners, advocacy groups, and various media outlets.
