John Tanza works out of VOA’s Washington headquarters as the managing editor and host of the  South Sudan In Focus radio program.
Before joining VOA, Tanza worked in Nairobi, Kenya where he established the first independent radio station (Sudan Radio Service) for the people of Sudan. He covered several conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan and has been engaged in the production of civic education materials for creating awareness about post conflict issues facing Sudanese and South Sudanese. Tanza has interviewed South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former Vice President Riek Machar, Vice President Wani Igga, leader of Sudan’s Umma Party Sadiq Al Mahdi in addition to other senior United Nations and U.S government officials in South Sudan and Washington. His travels have taken him across to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Egypt, Ethiopia, Syria, DRC Congo and parts East Africa where he reported on the South Sudanese diaspora and the challenges facing them. 
 A South Sudanese born American, John enjoys listening to music from all over the world, reads academic books, watches documentaries and listens to various radio stations on the internet.  Tanza is fluent in English, Swahili, Lingala, basic French and several South Sudanese languages. You can follow John on Twitter at @Abusukon