Tor Madira Machier Explained

Tor Madira Machier
Birth Name:John Tor Madira Machier
Birth Date:13 December 1990
Birth Place:Bentiu, Rubkona, Unity State, South Sudan
Nationality:South Sudanese
Occupation:Journalist
Years Active:2015–present
Known For:Editor-in-chief at Sudans Post

John Tor Madira Machier (born December 13, 1990) is a South Sudanese journalist who serves as the editor-in-chief of Sudans Post newspaper since January 2020. He is also a co-founder of the newspaper, one of a few outlets in South Sudan.[1] [2] He worked for several media houses in both Sudan and South Sudan.[3] [4]

Early life

Madira was born in Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's Unity State. He lived his childhood there and worked as a teacher for the state ministry of education. He later on worked with the Bentiu Radio FM-99 as a freelance reporter until December 2013 when the South Sudanese Civil War broke out and fled to Egypt.[5] [6]

Career and threats by security agents

Machier begun working as a freelance journalist around November 2013 at Bentiu Radio. He became a popular columnist and opinion writer in 2014 following the outbreak of civil war writing extensively against the atrocities of the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.[7] [8] He was hired to work for local news outlet Nyamilepedia as editor-in-chief in April 2018, but resigned due to lack of editorial impartiality from Nyamilepedia's higher management.

In 2020, he become the editor in chief of Sudans Post and following the blocking of the news publication in Juba, security agents searched for him and phoned him in Cairo to show up for a meeting in an apparent set up to arrest and deport him back to South Sudan. He fled to hiding and was never arrested.[9] [10]

Controversy

Madira triggered backlash from among the Sudanese public and army after deciding to adopt pro-Egyptian views when he claimed in July 2017 that the disputed regions of Halaib and Shalateen are Egyptian territories and that Egypt is not a national security threat. There were reports that he was later on approached by security operatives of the Sudanese intelligence in Cairo.[11] [12] [13] [14]

References

  1. Web site: June 28, 2021. MANAGEMENT. June 28, 2021. Sudans Post. en-US.
  2. Web site: Tor Madira : “Government officials kill at will, embezzle public funds at will” – Qurium Media Foundation. June 28, 2021. en-GB.
  3. Web site: Machier. Tor. June 28, 2018. Kiir, Machar declares permanent ceasefire. June 28, 2021. Nyamilepedia. en-US.
  4. Web site: South Sudan in Focus Voice of America – English. June 28, 2021. www.voanews.com. en.
  5. Web site: December 19, 2013. South Sudan: Soldiers Target Ethnic Group in Juba Fighting. June 28, 2021. Human Rights Watch. en.
  6. Web site: South Sudan Conflict Enters Second Year Voice of America – English. June 28, 2021. www.voanews.com. en.
  7. Web site: South Sudan Media: An endangered landscape – Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan. June 28, 2021. sudantribune.com.
  8. Web site: Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan. June 28, 2021. www.sudantribune.com.
  9. Web site: Tor Madira : “Government officials kill at will, embezzle public funds at will” – Qurium Media Foundation. June 28, 2021. en-GB.
  10. Web site: “Sudans Post” gets blocked after receiving personal threats from NSS – transcript revealed – Qurium Media Foundation. June 28, 2021. en-GB.
  11. Web site: كاتب سوداني جنوبي: حلايب مصرية ومزاعم الخرطوم بملكيتها خطأ المصري اليوم. June 30, 2021. www.almasryalyoum.com. ar.
  12. Web site: Sudan’s claim to Halayeb and Shalatin is based on a false cultural link. June 30, 2021. Enterprise. en.
  13. Web site: Why I believe Halayeb Triangle is an Egyptian territory – Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan. June 30, 2021. www.sudantribune.com.
  14. Web site: February 2, 2018. Egypt is Not a Threat to Sudan’s National Security Egyptian Streets. June 30, 2021. en-US.

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