Veteran Journalist Veronica Lucy Gordon Killed in South Sudan Ambush

Veteran journalist Veronica Lucy Gordon was killed in a road ambush between Mundri East and Mundri West in South Sudan on Thursday night. Two people were killed, and several others were reported missing. Gordon was a trailblazer in South Sudanese journalism, known for her courageous reporting during the country's 21-year civil war. She braved unimaginable hardships, including food shortages and constant danger, to ensure the public remained informed.

Gordon's career spanned several decades, during which she served as a news anchor, senior editor, and columnist for the Juba Monitor and Nile Mirror. She also coordinated local language broadcasting and community radio listening groups and later became the Director of the English News Department at SSBC Radio. Her dedication to duty never wavered, even in the face of danger. Gordon's passion for storytelling began during her student days at Lui Girls Secondary School, where she edited the school wall bulletin and championed community news.

Gordon was a champion for women's inclusion and media empowerment in South Sudan. She co-founded the Association for Media Women in South Sudan (AMWISS) and dedicated her career to elevating female journalists and advocating for gender parity across newsrooms. She was the first female board member of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) and served as Deputy Chairperson of the AMDISS Board in 2014.

Gordon's advocacy extended beyond media to reproductive health, peace-building, community development, and girl-child education. She earned regional and international recognition, including nominations for Africa's 100 Most Influential Women and Legendary Dignitaries Leadership Awards. Her legacy is deeply embedded in the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), which she helped shape into a gender-inclusive media organization.

The Director of AMDISS, Ayaa Irene Lokang, remembered Gordon as a mentor and guiding light. Lokang credited Gordon with teaching her how to defend her rights and the rights of fellow women. Gordon's mentee described her as a shining example of leadership, saying she led with grace, warmth, diplomacy, and unwavering courage.

AMDISS has condemned the attack that took Gordon's life and urged authorities to investigate the ambush and bring those responsible to justice. The organization extended its deepest condolences to Gordon's family, friends, and the entire media fraternity across South Sudan and beyond.

Gordon's death has sparked an outcry over media safety in South Sudan. Colleagues and media organizations are uniting to support her family during this difficult time. Her legacy lives on in every story told and every young journalist who steps forward to serve.

Key points

• The ambush that killed Veronica Lucy Gordon has sparked calls for improved media safety in South Sudan.
• Gordon was a trailblazer for women in South Sudanese journalism, advocating for gender parity and empowering female journalists.
• The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) has urged authorities to investigate the ambush and bring those responsible to justice.