By Jenifer James
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs issued an apology on Friday following an incident in which journalists were barred from covering a judiciary reform workshop that began the previous Wednesday.
On the opening day of the three-day event, several journalists reported being denied entry despite having received invitations from the Ministry. The workshop aimed to validate the Judicial Reform Committee’s (JRC) report.
Speaking during the workshop’s closing, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gabriel Isaac Awow, addressed the situation, explaining that the oversight was unintentional.
“We sincerely apologize to the journalists who were unable to attend. It was not our intention to exclude anyone; the venue was simply too small. When you invite someone to your home, you don’t turn them away,” Awow stated.
Awow also emphasized the importance of open communication, saying, “If there’s an issue, we’re here to listen and to apologize. However, publicizing these matters in the press may not be the best approach. We wish to encourage dialogue and understanding.”
In response to the incident last Thursday, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) called on the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and other relevant authorities to acknowledge what happened. They urged for a transparent explanation and a commitment to ensuring such incidents do not occur in the future.