4 November 2025
The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and IFEX stand in solidarity with their member, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), against the online attacks discrediting their work. AFEX is comprised of 14 member-organisations across the West, East, Central and Southern Africa regions and IFEX is a global network that includes these groups and another 100 member-organisations based around the globe dedicated to promoting and defending the right to freedom of expression and information.
For over 20 years, AMDISS has supported media development while promoting freedom of expression and information for an independent and democratic South Sudan. They have supported local journalists and media, particularly women journalists and others from remote areas, to participate in well-structured trainings, workshops, and seminars on safe, accurate, high-quality, effective reporting. They have engaged with governments to improve the safety of journalists, protect media freedom, support information integrity, and promote civic space. They have also brought together media, government, and civil society to discuss strategies and solutions for defending press freedom.
AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene is a journalist, activist, AFEX Steering Committee member, and IFEX Council member committed to promoting freedom of expression, including improving media standards and access to information in South Sudan’s national laws and advocating for gender equality of women journalists. She recently won an award for her influential work in advancing media development, freedom of expression, the rights of journalists and empowerment of women and girls in South Sudan.
We express concern that these attacks, including those targeting AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene, reflect a broader pattern that normalises the online targeting of journalists, activists and civil society and perpetuates the culture of impunity for violence against them.
The global creep of authoritarianism, increase in disinformation, and escalating online harassment and attacks, particularly gender-based digital violence, present ever-evolving threats to civic space and the work of journalists and media. Media-supporting organisations like AMDISS are vital advocates for the press by holding governments accountable to their commitments to freedom of expression, as well as supporting local journalists and media to learn and adapt to these challenging circumstances. In turn, it is critical governments ensure a free and open civic space for the media to exercise their rights to freedom of expression while upholding information integrity, which contributes to a healthy, thriving democracy.
