NDM demands explanation after SSBC fails to air Lam Akol interview

JUBA – The National Democratic Movement (NDM), led by Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, has expressed strong disappointment over the failure of the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) to air a scheduled interview with its chairman, describing the move as a breach of professional media standards.

In a press statement issued on Friday, 20 February 2026, the NDM Communication Committee said the interview with Akol was conducted on Thursday, 12 February 2026, at the party’s head office following a request from SSBC.

According to the party, there was a prior agreement that the program would be broadcast on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 9:30 p.m. However, the interview was not aired as scheduled.

The NDM said the discussion covered key national issues of public interest, including peace, democratic transformation, the forthcoming elections, and the role of political parties in promoting stability and state-building. The party argued that the failure to broadcast the interview at the agreed time raises “legitimate questions” about the reasons behind the delay.

Following the missed broadcast, the party leadership contacted the Minister of Information, Ateny Wek Ateny, seeking clarification. According to the statement, the minister assured them that the interview would instead be aired on Wednesday, 18 February. The NDM claims that this second commitment was also not honoured, and no official explanation was provided.

“It is worth mentioning that the interview was conducted at the request of the SSBC,” the statement emphasised, underscoring what the party sees as an unexpected and unexplained development.

The party reaffirmed its respect for national media institutions and acknowledged their critical role in promoting professionalism, neutrality, and equal access for all political parties, stressing that national media outlets are public institutions that belong to all South Sudanese citizens and should not serve the interests of any particular group.

As the country prepares for elections scheduled for the end of the year, the NDM said the responsibility of state-owned media becomes even more significant. It called on SSBC to issue an official clarification explaining why the interview was not aired at the agreed-upon times and to commit firmly to transparency, professional standards, and equal treatment of all political actors.

The party further asserted that its right to communicate with the public through various media platforms is guaranteed under the Transitional Constitution, the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), and established democratic norms.