By Kei Emmanuel Duku
In a stirring tribute to a fallen giant of the airwaves, the Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Major General Lul Ruai Koang, has equated the late Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile to a high-ranking military commander, describing him as a “Media Major General.”
Speaking over the weekend during the final funeral prayers for Akile in Juba, General Koang led a chorus of national figures, including security officials and veteran politicians, who gathered to honor the legacy of the journalist who passed away following surgery at Gudele Hospital.
General Koang described Emmanuel Akile as the “epitome of modern journalism in South Sudan,” noting that he left an impactful mark on the media landscape that will never be erased. Reflecting on their professional relationship, the army spokesperson characterized Akile as the most consequential host of Eye Radio’s The Dawn Show.
“Late Emmanuel Joseph Akile was a ‘Media Warrior’ and he died in the field of his duty,” General Koang stated. “Every division has its own rankings, and Late Emmanuel was a senior presenter. In my humble opinion, if he was to be equated to the army, his aggressiveness in the media is equated to a ‘Media Major General’ in the media division a rank he would hold equal to mine.”
The General recalled Akile’s dedication, noting that the journalist found him a reliable channel for military announcements. He shared that he hardly ever missed an invitation to Akile’s talk show, even recalling moments where the station would send a car to ensure he could attend despite transport difficulties.
The Spokesperson of the National Security Service (NSS), David John Kumuri, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Akile’s pivotal role in disseminating the Revitalized Peace Agreement. He credited the journalist with contributing significantly to the peaceful coexistence of the local population.
“Akile was not biased in his reporting; he was non-partisan. We are fully aware of his contribution to this great nation and it will not go unnoticed,” Kumuri said.
He further eulogized Akile as a “nationalist and patriotic” figure who refused to incite public conflict, stating that the void he left would not be filled for generations. “The role late Emmanuel Joseph Akile played in peacebuilding will not even be covered in the fifty years to come.”
Veteran politician Dr. Lam Akol also paid his respects, describing Akile’s death as a “big loss to the nation.” Having known Akile since 2014, and most recently during the Tumaini Peace talks in Nairobi, Dr. Akol remarked on the journalist’s impressive professional growth.
“He is a gifted and courageous journalist. The Emmanuel of 2014 is not the same journalist you met 2-3 years ago,” Dr. Akol observed. He praised Akile’s research-heavy approach, which allowed him to move beyond “examination-type” questions to deep, investigative follow-ups. “He asked follow-up questions to dig deep into the cause of the problem; this is the beauty of his journalism career.”
Dr. Akol noted that Akile’s death comes at a crucial moment as South Sudan prepares for its first democratic elections in December 2026. He urged active journalists to emulate Akile’s reporting style by holding government officials and senior politicians accountable.
As the prayers concluded, the consensus among the speakers was clear: South Sudan has lost a “Media Major General” whose courage and patriotism set a gold standard for the future of the nation’s press.