The former Director General of the National Security Service’s (NSS) Internal Security Bureau on Wednesday afternoon arrived at Juba International Airport aboard a flydubai airplane from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc who was dismissed by President Salva Kir last Wednesday was however not ecstatic about the large crowd that had gathered on the tarmac to receive him and dispassionately pushed through the people who were chanting SPLM Oyee and entered his sleek white Toyota LandCruiser which immediately sped off.
In a video taken upon his arrival that has since gone viral, the former spy chief who was surrounded by soldiers in uniform and plain-clothed security personnel, can be seen gesturing to the crowd that had surrounded him to move and the security personnel are heard telling the people to leave the area and go to the road.
Gen. Koor’s visibly gloomy demeanor raised eyebrows among supporters who gathered in large numbers at the airport. Opting for silence, the former spy chief avoided interacting with the media and swiftly departed in a convoy of NSS vehicles, leaving many of his supporters feeling abandoned.
Despite his abrupt dismissal, he was appointed governor of Warrap State, Kiir’s home state which has been plagued by cattle rustling, cyclic revenge, and intra and inter-communal violence.
Local leaders however voiced optimism about Gen. Koor’s ability to restore stability in Warrap, with Chief Mayom Bang Aken praising the appointment as a step toward much-needed disarmament and law enforcement.
“We believe Gen. Akol will listen to the people and bring peace to Warrap, just as Gen. Rin Tueny did in Lakes State,” Aken told Radio Tamazuj.
Echoing similar sentiment, Chief John Garang Deng called on Gen. Kuc to facilitate dialogue among local communities, suggesting collaboration with leaders from Lakes State and Abyei to strategize peacekeeping efforts.
“My message to Akol Koor is that he should reach out to the governors of Lakes State and Abyei to discuss how to maintain peace among the communities in Bher El Gazal,” Deng urged.
Koor’s reassignment comes at a time of sensitive speculation regarding power struggles within the security sector, particularly amid rumors of a potential coup involving him and Gen. Lual Wek, the commander of the Tiger Division, also known as the Presidential Guards.
On Monday, the Warrap State Coordination Office in Juba put out a letter inviting the Warrap State community in Juba to welcome the new governor at the Juba International Airport. The letter dated 7 October called on the residents, government officials, community leaders, and other groups from Warrap to gather at the Juba International Airport.
Many of the people who turned up to receive Gen. however felt slighted by his cold shoulder and dejectedly walked away from the airport apron.