US Embassy renews call for credible investigation into Christopher Allen’s Death

The U.S. Embassy in Juba has renewed calls for a credible investigation into the death of U.S. journalist Christopher Allen, who was killed during clashes in Morobo County in 2017.

Allen, a dual U.S.-British citizen, was killed on August 26, 2017, during fighting between government forces and the SPLA-IO in Kaya town, Morobo County, Central Equatoria State.

In a statement issued ahead of the anniversary of his death, the U.S. Embassy also called for an investigation into what it described as the disrespectful treatment of Allen’s remains.

“On August 26, 2017, U.S. citizen Christopher Allen was killed in South Sudan, while working as a journalist during the civil war. We renew our call on the transitional government of South Sudan to conduct a credible investigation into Mr. Allen’s death and the disrespectful treatment of his remains,” read the short a statement published by the U.S embassy on Monday.

The renewed call comes two years after a government-led investigation concluded that Allen was killed in a “crossfire” during fighting in Kaya town.

A seven-member committee that investigated the circumstances surrounding his death also concluded that there was no intention to kill Allen and maintained that he was shot in crossfire during the attack.

In 2022, the then Minister of Information, and now Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the government should not be held responsible for Allen’s death, claiming that he had entered South Sudan illegally.

The U.S. Embassy later condemned the remarks and called on the government to clarify whether the minister’s comments represented the official position of the government.