Information and Broadcasting

Functions :: Structure :: Projects and Programs :: Publications and Documents :: Contacts
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	Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin Minister
	Hon Atem Yak Atem Deputy Minister

Minister's Profile:

Prior to joining the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin was the Minister for Commerce and Industry (MCI)in the then Government of South Sudan (GOSS) up to June 2010. Previously, he was Minister for Regional Cooperation (MRC) Government of South Sudan (GOSS) 2006-May 2009 Juba. He also served as the State Minister of International Cooperation, Government of National Unity, Khartoum, Sudan. 2005- 2006. He was an SPLM member in SPLM\Sudan Government Peace Talks- Nairobi 1989 and is an SPLM member of National Liberation council up to date. He is also a Member of Parliament (MP) in the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly representing the Uror South Constituency in Jonglei State.

The Minister held various positions in the liberation struggle, including serving as SPLM\ SPLA Treasurer General for SPLM- London Committee 1983-1987 and SPLM representative to Southern African Countries (SADC), Harare, Zimbabwe 1988-2005. He was also the Special envoy for the SPLM\SPLA Chairman to Southern African countries from between 1991 and 2004. He held the position of Secretary of International Relations Representing SPLM in the Executive of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), 2002-2005 and has been a member of national Liberation Council (NLC), SPLM to date.

Dr. Benjamin has professional training in medicine and diplomacy. He studied Premedical Sciences at the University of Khartoum in 1965 and graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Cairo in 1970. He studied Hygiene and Tropical medicine in the school of Tropical Medicine, London in 1983. At the Centre for African Reconnaissance (CARS), University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria South Africa in 2005, he studied Diplomacy and International Relations. He also attended the SPLM\SPLA Institute of Ideology and Strategic studies, Zink, Gambela, Ethiopia - 1984-1985. Before the Liberation struggle days he worked in various Provincial and District hospitals in Wau and Yirol. He was also a Senior Registrar in General Surgery in both Khartoum and Omdurman University Teaching Hospitals.

Ministry's Mission:

The ministry functions as the mouthpiece of the government having the mandate to disseminate government press releases, press statements, and organization of public education campaigns. The ministry also organizes public events that engage the people of Southern Sudan in dialogue with their government and offer independent media outlets with opportunities to cover government activities.

Functions:

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting performs the following functions and duties:
 

1. Formulate Information and Broadcasting Policy, and where appropriate, execute that policy in Southern Sudan;
2. Coordinate the GOSS Communications and Public Information activities;
3. Plan and implement activities to disseminate public information regarding GOSS policies programmes and services, including the establishment of a GOSS Public Information Center and maintenance of a GOSS public website;
4. Build capacities within GOSS ministries to disseminate essential information about government activities;
5. Guarantee free and equitable access to public electronic media resources;
6. Guarantee freedom of media and free access to government information;
7. Formulate and implement legislation and regulations governing the broadcast media sector;
8. Act as the interim Broadcasting Licensing Authority;
9. Establish, under forthcoming legislation, an Independent Broadcast Authority to regulate the radio and television broadcasting sector, and under which the responsibilities to manage the broadcast frequency spectrum (SW, MW, FM and TV) and license radio and television stations, shall be unified;
10. Encourage the independent establishment of professional media and journalism associations;
11. Establish an independent Southern Sudan Broadcasting Corporation;
12. Manage, prior to the establishment of an independent entity, the Southern Sudan Radio Service and Southern Sudan Television Service;
13. Promote public service broadcasting at the state level;
14. Establish a News Agency for Sothern Sudan and prepare for that agency to become an independent entity;
15. Encourage the development of independent, non-governmental, community radio stations – that broadcast in local languages – to benefit underserved audiences in the Ten States, and encourage public-private partnerships to develop a vibrant independent media sector in Southern Sudan; and
16. Encourage public-private partnerships to develop a vibrant independent media sector in Southern Sudan.

Structure:

The Ministry is composed of the following Directorates:
 

1. Directorate of Radio and Television
2. Directorate of Information
3. Directorate of Administration and Finance

Each directorate is administered by a director general, supported by directors or head of departments or units with overall mandate to achieve the ministry’s goal and objectives.
 

Projects and Programs: 

Public Information Centre

1. To establish systems for the physical and electronic collection and record keeping of publicly-released GOSS documents and to facilitate public access to this information;
2. To establish outreach and information dissemination activities to internal (various government stakeholders) and external audiences (Libraries, Universities, International Organizations, Local Media Outlets, NGOs, CSOs and other potential stakeholder groups) using key events and media);
3. To create capacity for Public Information management and public information officer skills among MoIB personnel who will eventually assume management of Public Information at the PIC.

Key GoSS officials and partners officiate during the ground breaking ceremony for the
Public Information Centre

Government Press

Government Printing Press expected to function mid-next year.

Southern Sudan Television

Satellite project to carry Southern Sudan Television program to the Diaspora
 

Publications and Documents:

1. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Organization Bill, 2008
    
2. Ballot Bulletins
   
   #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5

Contacts:

Mr. George Garang Deng

Undersecretary

Tel: +256-477-124-421 / +249-129-077-409

Mr Mustafa Biong Majak Koul

Director General of Information

Tel: +249-922-260-000 / +249-122-975-874 / +256-477-185278

musabiong@yahoo.ca

Mr. Arop Bagat
Director General of Southern Sudan Radio and TV
Tel: +249 912452275
 

Mr. Paul Jacob Kumbo
Director of Public Information
Tel: +249 1022557303
Email: kpauljacob@yahoo.co.uk

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Functions :: Structure :: Projects and Programs :: Publications and Documents :: Contacts