By Sabri Dibaco
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called on South Sudanese institutions to strengthen cooperation in countering hate speech and disinformation while protecting human rights, freedom of expression, and independent journalism.
Speaking to the media on the coordination platform for addressing hate speech and disinformation, IGAD head of mission in South Sudan Victoria Anib emphasised the importance of involving communities in efforts to promote reliable information and peaceful coexistence.
She said community participation would help ensure that responses reflect local realities and reach people who might otherwise be excluded from public information and decision-making processes.
“At the same time, our efforts must uphold human rights, freedom of expression, privacy, and the independence of responsible journalism,” Victoria said.
The official cautioned that efforts to counter disinformation should not be used to restrict legitimate public debate, stressing that the objective should be to promote accurate information, responsible communication, and public trust.
The representative also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, noting that information flows across national borders and harmful narratives can spread rapidly between communities and countries.
“For IGAD, this initiative is particularly important, because peace and stability in South Sudan are closely connected to the wider peace and stability of the Horn of Africa,” she said.
Victoria added that cooperation through IGAD and African Union frameworks would remain essential in addressing cross-border risks and sharing effective practices.
The workshop concluded with a call for participating institutions to maintain the momentum generated during the three days of discussions and move towards implementing agreed actions.
According to the representative, a substantive review of the platform’s membership and revised governance arrangements is scheduled for November 6, followed by a management committee meeting and further technical work.
She said the platform’s success should be measured by its ability to prevent harm, improve access to reliable information, strengthen public confidence, and contribute to a peaceful and inclusive electoral environment, rather than by the number of meetings held or documents produced.
“Building a peaceful society requires not only strong institutions but also responsible leadership, informed citizens, and a collective rejection of narratives that divide our communities,” the representative outlined.
Victoria reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to working with the Government of South Sudan and its partners to support peace, stability, social cohesion, and an inclusive political transition.
The initiative comes as South Sudan prepares for its planned December 2026 general elections, making the role of coordinated information management, public awareness, and responsible communication particularly important.
The platform is expected to bring relevant institutions and stakeholders together to strengthen coordination in addressing hate speech and disinformation while safeguarding democratic participation and fundamental freedoms.