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South Sudanese Woman Found Guilty of Defamation
Voice of America
JUBA , SOUTH SUDAN - South Sudan’s high court sentenced social media influencer and self-proclaimed activist Amira Ali Thomas to six months in prison for defaming former Warrap state Information Minister Nyanagwek Kuol through videos she posted online.
The Juba court on Monday also ordered Ali Thomas, known as Mama Amira Ali to pay 35 million South Sudanese pounds (roughly $87,000) to Kuol in compensation. Ali is known for posting searing commentary about South Sudanese personalities and government officials and often uses vulgar language in live videos on her Facebook page. In April, Ali posted two videos insulting Kuol’s family in her native Dinka language. Kuol later sued Ali for defamation.
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