(JUBA CITY) – The United States Embassy in Juba has renewed its call for a credible investigation into the death of freelance journalist Christopher Allen, who held dual U.S. and United Kingdom citizenship.
Allen was shot dead in August 2017 while reporting on a clash in Kaya Town, Central Equatoria State, near the South Sudan-Uganda border. At the time, he had been embedded with the then rebel SPLA in Opposition forces for three weeks.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy said, “August 26, 2025, marks the eighth anniversary of the death of U.S. journalist Christopher Allen in 2017. Mr. Allen was killed in South Sudan while covering the civil war between the SPLA and the SPLA in opposition. 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 Embassy noted that the findings of a government investigation committee, announced on 21 March 2024, did not fully address all factors surrounding Allen’s death or the alleged mistreatment of his body.
The committee was formed in October 2023 following sustained international pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom, and journalistic and human rights organisations.
During a press briefing in March 2024, David Charles Ali Bilal, head of the committee, described the circumstances of the killing. He said Allen’s death occurred at 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) in the chaos of crossfire, making it difficult to determine identities. He concluded that Allen was “unintentionally killed as a result of crossfire.”
Ali also repeated statements made by Information Minister Michael Makuei shortly after Allen’s death, suggesting that the journalist had “entered South Sudan illegally” and was not wearing protective or press identification clothing at the time.
Despite the official report, the U.S. Embassy continues to press for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation.
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