Northern Bahr al Ghazal Police Commissioner General Akot Deng Akot has dismissed accusations he attempted a coup when he deployed his men in state capital Aweil after allegedly revealing intentions to become governor.

“These are baseless claims. I was just carrying out my duty as person responsible for the security sector only. What was being said against me that I am supporting the rebels is untrue,” he said.

Akot said that the political unrest escalated in Northern Bahr el Ghazal when the governor Kuel Aguer Kuel left to Malualkon and then to Juba on 26 January without officiating two separate meetings of the State Legislative Assembly and the SPLM Youth League in Wanyjok area.

"We ran after him to ask him that once he leaves the state who will chair the two meetings in the state,” he said.

Akot said the governor decided to delegate Deng to chair the two meetings of the assembly and SPLM Youth League.

He pointed out that the governor talked to him on phone after he arrived in the capital Juba.

“The governor asked me why I should send police forces to Wanyjok during the SPLM youth meeting.  I told him that there was a fight in Wanyjok that’s why a police force was sent there,” he said.

Akot claimed that the governor ordered him to cancel the SPLM meetings immediately and then stand down his forces verbally without any written order.

“Suppose I was summoned by the SPLM and the assembly members, of course I would have not been able to answer. That’s why he is now accusing me of supporting the opposition faction after I defied the order," he said.

Akot added he decided to deploy his forces around Aweil and set up roadblocks after the state ministers and advisers decided to stage protests at the SPLM office and the state assembly against the impeachment of the governor.

"After I heard that the cabinet ministers were going for protests, I immediately went to Santino Deng Wuol on 28 January and we discussed the matter. That’s why we blocked the roads to secure the area because if a fight erupted in that protests many people many people would have died,” he said.

He said he ordered his forces to stand down after seeing that the situation was returning to normal in the following morning. “I was just securing the citizens and it is my responsibility to do so,” he said.

Akot also denied allegations that he ordered the arrest of at least nine officials and chiefs perceived supporters of Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer, while rejecting accusations that he tried to go to the office of the Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer so that he takes over the state government.

“I am a security official. I am not stupid and I know very well how one can become a governor in the state,” he said.

Akot accused politicians of disseminating fabrications in media and vowed to file a lawsuit against whoever is trying to smear his reputation.

“Some of them claimed that I have rebelled, I can say I will be the last person to rebel in South Sudan if there need for rebellion” he said.

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General Akot Deng accused of making power grab in Aweil before standing down his forces