Woja Emmanuel
Woja Emmanuel (born 4 January 1994), is a South Sudanese multimedia journalist. He is a former news editor for Eye Radio and Radio Tamazuj, independent broadcasters based in Juba, South Sudan , and Nairobi, Kenya, respectively.[1] He co-founded Wikimedia South Sudan, an organization working on documenting stories and important monuments about South Sudan on the Wikimedia platforms.[2]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Woja Emmanuel was born at Mvepi Camp in Uganda to Mr. Wani Denis Hillario and Mrs. Jane Jama Clement. His parents fled the Sudanese liberation war in the early 1990s and settled in Arua District as refugees, where Woja was born.
He began his education at Mvepi Nursery and Primary School, completing his nursery education there. In 2002, Woja's parents enrolled him at St. John Bukangara Primary School, a subsidiary of Bukangara Parish Diocese of Kasese, in Kasese District, Uganda, where he studied until Primary 4.
In 2005, Woja returned to his native country, South Sudan, to reunite with his parents. He was enrolled in Christ The King Primary School in Yei River County, where he studied for three years. Afterward, he moved to Kanjoro Primary School, also in Yei, where he spent one year before transferring to Kinji Primary School, where he completed his Primary Leaving Examinations in 2009.
In 2010, Woja joined Excel International Academy and completed his high school education four years later. He then relocated back to Uganda and enrolled at UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2015, graduating with a diploma in Journalism and Communication in 2017.
In 2021, Woja pursued a bachelor's degree at Cavendish University in Kampala, Uganda, and graduated with a degree in Journalism, Communications, and Public Relations in August 2024.
Career
[edit]Woja began his journalism career at the Daily Monitor Newspaper in Kampala, where he worked as an intern reporting on health and the environment for a period of seven months. After completing his diploma, he relocated to Juba, where he secured another internship opportunity with Juba Monitor Newspaper. He worked there from late 2017 until May 2019.
In June 2019, Woja joined Eye Radio as a reporter and was promoted to news editor in 2021.[3] He left Eye Radio in March 2022 after a kidnapping incident involving unknown gunmen in Juba, having served there for about three years.[4]
Following a six-month hiatus from active journalism, Woja accepted an editorial position at Radio Tamazuj, a Kenyan-based South Sudanese radio station, where he worked for eight months before leaving in May 2023.
In June 2023, Woja took on the role of Communications Specialist with the Education Development Center. He remained with the organization for one year before departing in May 2024.
Woja is also a trained fact-checker and a fellow for the 211 Check, a fact-checking platform in Juba.[5]
Kidnapping incident
[edit]In March 2022, Woja was abducted by armed men in Juba who interrogated and tortured him about his journalism work. The kidnappers accused him of publishing inciting content in the country.[6] This ordeal is believed to be linked to his reporting on sensitive issues reflecting the precarious environment for journalists in South Sudan.[7]
Woja Emmanuel | |
|---|---|
 Emmanuel in 2024 | |
| Born | 4 January 1994 |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Eye Radio (formerly) |
The kidnapping occurred when Woja was approached near his Eye Radio workplace and forced into a vehicle at gunpoint. He was held for hours, and subjected to both physical and psychological torture before he escaped.[4] His kidnapping widely condemned by the media freedom organizations highlighted the increasing dangers faced by journalists in South Sudan.[8] His kidnapping raised concerns about the safety of human rights defenders in South Sudan as the country prepared for elections in 2024.[9]
Resignation from Eye Radio
[edit]Following the abduction, Woja resigned from Eye Radio citing concerns for his safety and the need to reflect on his experiences. His decision marked a turning point in his career as he shifted to freelance journalism to continue his work in a safer and more flexible capacity.[10]
Exile
[edit]Following his kidnapping, Woja became one of the few journalists who fled South Sudan to seek safety, as a result of the harsh media environment.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Woja Emmanuel, Author at Eye Radio". Eye Radio. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "South Sudanese urged to document the country's activites". Audioboom. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Chang, Koang (19 August 2020). "Interview: How the gov't is responding to assist people affected by floods". Eye Radio. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ a b cfeditoren (4 March 2022). "Journalist assaulted by unknown people". South Sudan. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "COVID-19: Low vaccine uptake coupled with minimal adherence to preventive measures exposes South Sudan to second virus wave". 211CHECK. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Chang, Koang (3 March 2022). "Eye Radio's editor abducted, drugged and tortured in Juba". Eye Radio. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Chang, Koang (4 August 2020). "Why Wau's incident almost brought the SSPDF and SPLA-IO to war". Eye Radio. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "South Sudanese authorities deny accusations of rights violations claimed by Human Rights Watch". anews. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "UN rights commission accuses South Sudan of violations ahead of elections | Politics". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Kidnapped Eye Radio editor quits job after reflection on ordeal". Radio Tamazuj. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Admin, ACME (6 October 2023). "UN report sheds light on plight of journalists in South Sudan". African Centre for Media Excellence. Retrieved 19 November 2024.