Hot in Juba Disputes Media Authority Suspension Over Licensing and Compliance Dispute

(JUBA) – Hot in Juba, a well known digital media outlet operating under Eight Seven Group Limited, has challenged the recent suspension of its operations by the Media Authority, describing the action as unjust and lacking due process. The company says the decision raises concerns about transparency and the business environment for private media enterprises in South Sudan.

Hot in Juba said the suspension follows summons issued in September relating to what the Media Authority described as a series of complaints. The company stated that it held a phone conversation with the Director General for Information and Media Compliance, Spana Agyuli Abuyi, alongside a National Security attaché. During this discussion, the Editor in Chief was instructed to appear before an investigation committee in person, even though he was outside the country at the time.

The company assigned its lawyer to represent it, but the Media Authority declined to meet him, saying they could not disclose the allegations to a representative and insisting that only the Editor in Chief could appear. A second summons on 30 September resulted in the same outcome, with officials again refusing to meet the lawyer.

Hot in Juba stated that it was initially licensed in 2023 after meeting the Media Authority’s requirements for a media operation. The company has since been working to expand into radio broadcasting through the proposed Hot in Juba FM, while also planning a weekly newspaper. This required a new radio broadcasting licence in addition to the existing online publication licence.

After submitting the application for the new licence, Hot in Juba says it was advised to return the following day to collect an invoice required for bank payment, a step similar to its previous licensing process. However, when the team returned, they were issued a summons instead of the invoice. The company believes this was meant to pressure it into responding to the summons before being allowed to complete its licence payment.

With the previous licence expiring and the new one still pending, Hot in Juba found itself unable to renew or upgrade its authorisation, leaving the organisation in regulatory limbo.

A week later, the Media Authority issued a formal suspension letter signed by Managing Director Elijah Alier. The letter accused Hot in Juba of what it described as reckless publications, defamatory content, inconsistent communication, and failure to appear before the investigation committee. However, the company notes that the letter did not specify any particular publication or article that formed the basis of the allegations.

Hot in Juba said it was ordered to remove all abusive or defamatory statements from its platforms, even though none were identified. The organisation chose not to make the matter public for almost two months, hoping to resolve the issue through dialogue, but says these efforts did not lead to a solution. The outlet also reported that a Media Authority official threatened to ask the National Communications Authority to block Hot in Juba’s platforms completely.

The company described the suspension as unfair and not aligned with the principles of due process, saying it was never informed of the nature of the complaints nor allowed to respond through its authorised legal representative. Hot in Juba maintained that it remains committed to professional journalism and is prepared to respond to any lawful process.

The organisation called on partners, civil society groups, and advocates of media freedom to pay attention to the situation, saying the case highlights broader challenges facing independent media businesses in South Sudan.

Hot in Juba Says Suspension Lacks Due Process