Africa Business Radio

Western diplomats in South Sudan have said the government should respect freedom of expression, including the right to peaceful protest.Their joint statement follows the arrest of a number of activists in the wake of a call by a group calling itself People’s Coalition for Civil Action, which is allegedly planning an anti-government protest on Sunday.The diplomats said freedom of expression was needed in parliament and in society at large, adding that freedom of assembly must also be protected.They pointed out that these were universal rights enshrined in South Sudan's transitional constitution.