The South Sudanese army has sought to reassure both South Sudanese citizens and foreign nationals, including diplomats, of their safety following a gunfire exchange in the capital, Juba, on Thursday evening.
The gunfire, which lasted over an hour, erupted at around 7 p.m. near the Nimule Resort Hotel in the Thongping neighborhood, where the residence of former intelligence chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is located.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the official spokesperson for the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) confirmed that calm had been restored to the capital following clashes between two military groups at Gen. Kuc’s residence. The spokesperson emphasized that the situation had been contained, and investigations into the cause of the incident were underway.
“The situation is now generally calm. I would like to reassure South Sudanese citizens, foreign nationals, and diplomats that their safety and property are secure. The shooting incident at Gen. Akol Koor’s residence has been brought under control, and we are investigating the misunderstanding between the soldiers deployed there,” he said.
When asked about the cause of the conflict, Maj. Gen. Lul said the exact trigger was still unclear but mentioned that the incident may be related to a recent order from the leadership.
“Last week, Gen. Akol was asked to stay in his house and two top army generals were sent to inform him of the decision. Since then, additional security forces had been deployed to his residence,” he said.
“Gen. Akol had been operating with a larger force previously, but after his dismissal, his security detail was reduced. There are now two layers of security at his residence—one inside for his protection, and another outside. We are investigating the cause of the clashes between these forces,” he added.
Akol Koor Kuc, who served as the head of the NSS since South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011, was abruptly dismissed by President Salva Kiir in early October.
Analysts suggest his removal reflects a high-stakes power struggle at the top levels of the transitional government.
Kiir replaced Koor with a close ally, further consolidating control amid heightened political uncertainty.
The move comes at a delicate time for South Sudan. The transitional government, led by President Salva Kiir, announced in September that national elections originally scheduled for December would be postponed for the second time.