A/HRC/43/56 buy newspapers”.248 For 2019, the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders ranked South Sudan 139 out of 180 countries. 249 72. The Commission spoke to numerous individuals including civil society organizations who had experienced how civic space for freedom of expression and speech had been severely curtailed by the security apparatus, particularly the NSS, who continued to clamp down on the media, shut down radio stations and newspapers, and arrested, harassed and intimidated journalists and human rights defenders. Humanitarian organizations also expressed reservations about heightened surveillance. Members of civil society organizations in Juba, for example, expressed concerns over State monitoring of their private social media and digital communication accounts.250 Others, including in Juba and Wau, were unable to conduct workshops without the express consent of NSS, who interlocutors believed were infiltrating and attending their workshops.251 One interlocutor explained how State Security may determine the size of a workshop and the subject of discussion. 252 The Commission also continued to document cases where NSS did not authorize workshops and meetings of civil society groups to be held, despite the civic nature of their purpose. 253 73. The media has repeatedly faced intimidation, harassment, threats and censorship, primarily from the security forces. This climate of repression has been marked by the closure of radio stations and the suppression of publications that convey information deemed to be critical or unfavourable to Government.254 Coverage of certain topics considered by officials to be too sensitive for public consumption included security and military matters, federalism, corruption, the opposition and even the peace process. This pervasive trend of censorship and manipulation of information comes at a moment when it is crucial for the people of South Sudan to engage in free and open debate about their future. 74. Though the South Sudan Media Authority was established in 2014 as a government agency to protect journalists, including those working to expose violations of human rights, it has instead become a tool for oppression and has been instrumental in revoking accreditations and work permits of such individuals. The Commission notes with concern the silencing of foreign journalists by the State apparatus, including the Media Authority, during the reporting period. These actions appeared to be calculated to prevent media scrutiny as the then deadline for the establishment of R-TGoNU on 12 November 2019 approached. 75. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, at least two foreign journalists were declared persona non grata by the State. One Associated Press journalist had her press credentials revoked on 31 October 2019 and was expelled for six months with the State finding that she had “concocted misinformation intended to create panic and fear of the unknown.” 255 Less than one week later, on 4 November, a French journalist on assignment with France24 was reportedly similarly deported.256 76. Members of civil society based in Juba further recalled how NSS agents had been arbitrarily arresting and detaining their staff, forcing on numerous instances individuals to exile themselves abroad.257 One civil society representative recalled how “staff are picked up 248 Ibid. Reporters Without Borders, https://rsf.org/en/south-sudan. This ranking is based on several criteria including pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency and the quality of infrastructure supporting the production of news and information. 250 Confidential meeting, 21 August 2019; ERN 102903 - 102908, para. 14. 251 ERN 102996 - 103002, para. 5: ERN 102903 - 102908, para. 16. 252 ERN 102903 - 102908, para. 16. 253 ERN 102996 - 103002, para. 5; Confidential meeting. 254 ERN 103529 -103537; ERN 102903 - 102908; ERN D120812 - D120812; ERN D120785 D120790. 255 Twitter, 31 October 2019, available at https://bit.ly/30mSuUE; ERN 102903 - 102908, para. 10; and ERN D120813 - D120813. 256 South Sudan expels another journalist, second in two weeks, Reporters Without Borders, 7 November 2019, available at https://rsf.org/en/news/south-sudan-expels-another-journalist-secondtwo-weeks. 257 Confidential meeting, 7 November 2019; Confidential meeting, 14 November 2019; Confidential meeting, 15 November 2019; and Confidential meeting, 16 November 2019. 249 41