South Sudan bans all interviews with rebel leader Machar

South Sudan has banned the country's journalists from publishing interviews with a rebel leader, five days after authorities closed a prominent radio station.

Eye Radio went off air last Friday after it broadcasted a segment of an interview with Riek Machar, the leader of the opposition SPLM-IO who is currently in South Africa.

"There are orders and directives we have received from the above that no media is allowed to talk to Riek Machar and come and broadcast or print it out here inside South Sudan," an unnamed security official told the Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

"So be very careful you members of the media, especially those of you in the electronic media who do not comply with the policies of the government because you think you can not be reached," the official said.

"It is a false perception. The government has the longest arms to reach you."

Stephen Omiri, CEO of Eye Radio, told The New Arab that his radio station was still off-air and could not comment on any discussions with authorities.

Alfred Taban, chairperson of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) told reporters today that he had asked the relevant authorities to allow the station back on air.

"We are talking with the authorities. We tell them, look, if you do it this way it hurts us and denies the society the right to information and we will not move forward," said Taban.

"So we have asked them to accept dialogue and to reconsider their decision to reopen the station. Closing it down indefinitely is not the best way."