
South Sudan: South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A) – Condemnation and Rejection of Hussein Abdelbagi move to oust Dr. Costello Garang from SSPM Chairmanship (27.11.2024)




“South Sudan’s former National Security Service (NSS) chief, General Akol Koor Kuc, has avoided arrest following a tense standoff, though three of his bodyguards were wounded in the incident. Akol remains at his residence in the Thongpiny neighborhood of Juba, according to close security sources” (Sudans Post, 22.11.2024).
“Calm has returned to Juba after an urgent security meeting chaired by President Kiir resolved to provide maximum protection to the former Spy Chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and his family. This decision was reached amidst last night’s heavy gunshots that have caused panic and fear among the public. The standoff between security forces and former Spy’s loyalists led to some unconfirmed casualties and injuries” (Tonj Trinity Media, 22.11.2024).
“Arm Chief Gen. Santino Deng Wol Evacuates Former Spy Chief From Thongpiny to Jebel Suk
With eyed evidence, Gen. Santino Deng Wol has been seen collecting ex-spy boss Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and his wife plus his 5 bodyguards from Thongpiny residential area to Jebel Suk where ex- spy chief has another house there. The evacuation of former spy chief came about when the heavy gunfire exchange took place last night at Thongpiny between Tiger division and ex-spy chief allies. Nonetheless, the fight was ceased shortly after 30 minutes. Currently, Thongpiny is 100% percent safe and there is no single soldier you see loitering around. All heavy armed vehicles have left immediately after they have seen Akol Kuc is complied to go with Gen.Dengdit” (Aweilda Number One, 22.11.2024).
In Juba things are going back to normal, though reports of tensions and such are still there. Things aren’t just sealed and back to business. There is now signs of how fickle things are and how the Generals are fighting for power.
Yesterday, some reports was wrong, as they said he was arrested and guarded away from Juba. That wasn’t true. He has been in house-arrest and been under circumstances that has kept him in-house. Therefore, the authorities, the army and the state agencies knew where he was. That’s why they thought they could seal the deal quickly.
Nevertheless, General Kiir and his minions didn’t consider the bodyguards and the supporters surrounding General Akol Koor. That’s why they couldn’t just take him and detain him on the spot. He wouldn’t budge and there was lack of protocol. As there are now reports that the state didn’t have warrants or paperwork diligently showing the reason for an arrest. Therefore, the former spy chief had enough leverage to be kept at bay.
Alas, now there is further escalation and after the last 24 hours. The state needs to arraign him. As the injured, the violence and lethal usage of force. There reports of possible two bodyguards of General Akol Koor has died after yesterday’s action. So, this shows how things are and how easily life are taken over the continuation of power.
We know things aren’t all as it seems, some reports says his taken in today and others are saying this: “There is a tense calm in Juba following a heavy exchange of gunfire last night at the residence of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, former Director General of the Internal Bureau of the National Security Service. Security checkpoints are in place, and movement is restricted in certain areas. The army and police are currently assessing the situation and will provide further updates. As of now, the whereabouts of Gen. Akol Koor remain unclear” (Radio Miraya – JUBA SITUATION UPDATE, 22.11.2024).
The Radio Miraya update is posted hours apart from the ones saying his arrested. So, hard to know. However, the reports yesterday said the same thing too and those wasn’t true. He was supposed to be on the way to Bilpam, which wasn’t true at all. In the midst of the gun-smoke and gun-fire the rumours, speculation and everything went haywire. That’s why there is more subtly today.
We will know more as the hours goes by and if the authorities also drops intelligence or even shows the General Akol Koor alive somewhere. That’s what is needed, because this will just further the speculations and uncertainty. The big-men is fighting, the one who used to have power and the one who is still in power. Peace.

“The South Sudan army is reporting that the heavy shooting heard in Juba is coming from the residence of the former Director General of the National Security Services (NSS) Internal Security Bureau – General Akol Koor Kuc. Army’s spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai confirmed this to Radio Miraya and is asking the general public to remain calm” (Sudan News, 21.11.2024).
“South Sudan’s former spy chief, General Akol Koor Kuc has been arrested and transported to Bilpam, the headquarters of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), following clashes with security forces” (Sudans Post, 21.11.2024).
Today was the sky flaring up with gun-shuts, as the sky was lit with it. The leaked videos from it showed what was going down in Juba, South Sudan. Yet again, as it was in 2013. The armed forces went into go mode and settled the grievances by the guns. This time around another former ally and entrusted fellow army commander was caught. A man who just a mere month ago was sacked as the Spy Chief and demoted to a gubernatorial office.
This just shows how fickle things are, as the General Akol has already in the recent month been blocked from leaving Juba. He has stopped on the airport in Juba. In addition to be held in captivity in his own home under house arrest. Today things got even further and now his reportedly arrested.
Here is his statement as he was demoted to become Governor:
“I am surprised at the rumours stating I have declined the offer by my President to serve my country at the state level. Declining for what reason? I am a government civil servant who worked years ago in Warrap State as the Commissioner of Tonj North County. I am happy to serve again at the gubernatorial level” – General Akol Koor Kuc (Voice of Juba, 05.10.2024).
General Akol served the President and republic as a Spy Chief for over a decade. He knows the tricks to the trade and was sort of an enigma. That has given him a lot of support and there was even talks of him being a possible successor to the current President. Alas, that doesn’t seem likely now.
Especially, not after the fallout and usage of force in Juba. This is the sort of aftermath that seals the deal and stops all sorts of movement between the former allies. There are now settlements and need for a sit-down. However, we know that isn’t coming fast as one General are behind bars and the other is busy keeping up the status quo.
Others aligned with Gen Akol Koor has been apprehended too:
“According to sources closed to Gen. Marshall, the order for complete arrest and isolation of Gen. Akol Koor came from President Salva Kiir today. The general further revealed that if Gen. Akol Koor resists, the army is ready to use force to restrain and relocate him.
According to relatives, there is no written order from the President as it was done in the past when the army came to disarm the bodyguards of Gen. Akol Koor from the house which the general accepted and released all his bodyguards back to their units. They were replaced by soldiers from the tiger division.
This evening, the news of arrest and isolation was conveyed by number of senior generals from SSPDF and Internal Security Bureau of NSS.
1. Gen. Marshall Stephen Babenan- SSPDF CMI
2. Gen. Paul Nang Majok -SSPDF
3. Gen. Gum Makuac- SSPDF Tiger commander
4. Gen. Charles Ciec Mayor- ISB/ NSS” (Thømæs Nati, 21.11.2024).
This here is a power-struggle… and even if the guns are silenced tonight. It is telling how easily this went down and how they decided this was their way to square off. Tonight General Akol is resting with the Military Intelligence, as his arrested and an outlaw. That’s the game he played and he has supporters who fought by his side. We don’t know the ramifications of the shoot-out and the skirmishes in the capital.
One has to be careful in the coming days. Even if the gun-smoke is off for tonight. The General might be detained in the coming days, but there are hungry and restless soldiers, who are aligned with the former spy-chief and others who wants to eat. So, these might cause more harm in Juba soon. However, that is just speculations for now.
We will know more with time. Juba has seen yet again more violence and usage of lethal weapons. Peace.







“𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 — The Presidency, under the chairmanship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, has announced an extension of the country’s transitional period by two years as well as postponing elections,which were initially scheduled for December 2024 to December 22nd, 2026. Speaking to reporters, Presidential Adviser on National Security, Hon. Tut Gatluak said the extension is an opportunity to implement the critical remaining protocols in R-ARCSS, such as the permanent constitution process, census, and the registration of political parties. On his part, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro said the extension is in response to the recommendations from both electoral institutions and the security sector. Citing pending critical tasks necessary for the successful conduct of elections, necessitating the delay, saying there is a need for additional time to complete essential tasks before the polls. Minister Lomuro also reassured the public that the government would remain operational during this extended period” (Office of the President – Republic of South Sudan, 13.09.2024).
Here we go again, the R-TGoNU, the TNLA and the whole gathering of stakeholders have pushed back and stopped the scheduled elections that was supposed to go down on the 22nd December 2024. The ones that has been following from the sidelines knew this could eventually happen.
As J-1 and everyone encircling the President aren’t ready for an election. The authorities, the legislative bodies or the state apparatus wasn’t in order. Neither has the R-ARCSS been implemented, the structures being built or the institutions prepared for a free and fair election. If the Republic held an election in December 2024 it wouldn’t be credible or fair by any figment of imagination.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Dr. Riek Machar and the rest of the key stakeholders in this administration knows everything has gone slow. Every talks, negotiations and such are with hurdles. With fallouts and with bitter bickering. Warlords crossing fires and burning bridges. There are someone who is in it for the short-con and to get a cut. That’s why things are stalling and everyone is trying to further their own interests over building a functioning nation.
That’s why people are waiting. The Khartoum Declarations and the Entebbe Talks are far gone. The Tumaini Initiative and the Rome talks will be forgotten too. The years goes by and things are just malfunctioning out of “status quo” and giving a life-line to the current rulers. While they don’t have to abide by rules or regulations, because they haven’t enacted them or cared to do so.
It is really depressing… R-ARCSS was supposed to be finalized on the 12th May 2019 and since then the leaders have given themselves several of new deadlines. Now they furthered the Transitional Period. Making it soon a decade more. Just imagine the nation never held polls or credible elections since it’s inception. The people haven’t been able or had the option of choosing their leaders. These are people who has taken arms and shoot themselves into power. It isn’t people who are anointed or even vouched for in that regard. No, they are people who has rebelled and who had armed groups behind them. That’s why they are at the table and has a say.
Just think about it. Since 2011… the people have waited on J-1 and the others to do the right thing, but these leaders have failed them. Again and again. Kiir wants to rule by decree and not by constitutional order. Neither does he trust the will of the people. That’s why he doesn’t implement or have the heart to build governing institutions, which could resolve the matter at hand. Alas, it is all individuals who doesn’t want to lose power and influence. Leaders who are afraid of the people and what they would do. Because, if they had faith in them and trusted their judgment. These leaders who have enacted, ensured and made the election happen yesterday. Peace.