South Sudanese journalists are mourning VOA reporter Charlton Doki, who was killed in a road accident in Juba on Thursday night.
“Charlton died shortly at Juba Teaching hospital after an accident that involved two motorbikes-crush on Dec. 14, 2023. The accident happened at around 11pm at the roundabout located next to Equity Bank, Munuki branch,” reads a statement issued by Alfred George Jame, family member.
Police are yet to comment on the tragic accident.
Doki had been the coordinator and editor of Voice of America or VOA – South Sudan In Focus Program since 2016, editing scripts before sending them to D.C for further editing.
“He was a man who knew his work and had good working relationships with reporters,” Philip Thon Aleu, former VOA reporter, told The Radio Community on Friday.
“I did not have difficulty working with him. He would ask what I missed out without being judgmental. Such a cool soul!”
For his part, Marvis Birungi, former colleague, described him as a “tolerant soul”.
“May your kind and most patient tolerant soul rest in peace my friend!,” she wrote on her Facebook profile.
Mourners are currently gathering at Rev. Elujai Rume’s home at Hai Dar el Salaam, east of Merkolong Primary School in Juba.
For his part, Charles Kay Mark of the No. 1 Citizen Daily English Newspaper says the death of Doki marks a “dark moment” for journalists in the country.
“Life claimed by a terrible accident. A known journalist, Charlton Doki (VoA) in Juba is no more. Dark moment for the media practitioners in South Sudan,” he writes.
Meanwhile, the station manager of Eye Radio, Koang Pal Chang, said Doki was “down-to-earth” citizen.
“Doki was among few professional journalists in South Sudan who never abandoned their careers because of hostile media environment or for the well-paying NGOs jobs,” Koang stated.
“As my mentor, he always adhered to ethical journalism. Doki was a down-to-earth human who never had issue with anyone in the newsroom. May God rest his soul internal peace.”