Michael Christopher, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Watan daily Arabic Newspaper

The Media Authority says it has lifted suspension on Al Watan newspaper.

It suspended activities of the Arabic daily over what it said was non-compliance with its regulations five months ago.

The Media Authority claimed that the newspaper operated for almost a year without valid license.

According to the media regulatory body, the lifting of suspension comes after Al Watan “completed its media operation license renewal process”.

A statement extended to Eye Radio partly reads, open quote:

“The Authority has therefore lifted the suspension and authorized AL Watan Arabic Daily Newspaper to resume publications with effect from September 5, 2019.” End quote.

The developments come about a week after its editor-in-chief, Michael Christopher, was released by the National Security Service, 39 days after he was jailed, arbitrarily.

Prior to his detention, NSS officers confiscated Christopher’s passport at Juba International Airport as he tried to travel to Nairobi, Kenya.

In January, both South Sudan’s Media Authority and the Blue House had warned Christopher, after he published an opinion article supporting the political protests in Sudan.

Two months after the warning, MA suspended publication of Al-Watan on what it claimed to be grounds of non-compliance and operating without a license.