The United States Embassy in Juba has renewed its call for a credible investigation into the 2017 killing of American journalist Christopher Allen, as questions over his death and the treatment of his remains remain unresolved.
Allen, a U.S. citizen and freelance journalist, was killed on August 26th, 2017, while reporting on South Sudan’s civil war in Morobo County, Central Equatoria.
Nearly nine years later, the circumstances surrounding his death have continued to draw concern, with the U.S. government repeatedly calling for an investigation into what happened.
In a statement issued on Monday, the U.S. Embassy said its again urging South Sudan’s transitional government to establish the circumstances of Allen’s death and examine how his remains were handled.
“On August 26, 2017, U.S. citizen Christopher Allen was killed in South Sudan, while working as a journalist during the civil war. We renew our call on the transitional government of South Sudan to conduct a credible investigation into Mr. Allen’s death and the disrespectful treatment of his remains,” the statement read in part.
The renewed appeal highlights the lack of a publicly known, credible investigation into the case despite years of calls from Washington.
The South Sudanese government has faced continued pressure to clarify the circumstances of Allen’s killing and address concerns surrounding the handling of his remains, but no conclusive public account has emerged.
Allen’s death has since become a longstanding case in discussions about press freedom and journalist safety in South Sudan.