The South Sudanese army has called for calm following a heavy exchange of gunfire that erupted this evening at the residence of the former Director General of the Internal Bureau of the National Security Service, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, causing widespread concern in the capital, Juba.
Army Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang described the shooting at around 7pm as a “misunderstanding” between different levels of security forces at the residence of the former spy chief.
“There was a shooting at the residence of former Spy Chief Gen. Akol Koor, and it involved our own security forces who had been deployed to provide extra security,” Lul told UN-run Radio Miraya.
He explained that two layers of security had been assigned to protect Akol since his removal from the position of director general in October 2024.
“There’s an outer protection force, a platoon deployed around his residence for extra security and closer protection within his compound,” Lul explained.
“The misunderstanding occurred between the two forces. We are not sure what triggered it, but the result was the gunfire you heard earlier. As a result, two servicemen were shot and wounded,” he said.
The army spokesperson said Chief of Defence Forces General Santino Deng Wol managed to de-escalate the situation.
“In response, our Chief of Defence Forces, General Santino, rushed to the scene, contained the situation, and ordered the hostilities to cease. An investigation will be conducted tomorrow to determine exactly what happened,” Lul added.
Lul urged the public to remain calm and stay indoors.
“Let everyone stay where they are. The situation is under control, and we will provide further updates soon,” he said.
When contacted by Radio Tamazuj, Police Spokesperson Col. John Kassara Koang urged residents of Juba to remain calm following reports of heavy gunfire in the Thongpiny residential area.
“The situation has now returned to normal, and my message to the public is to stay calm—everything is under control.”
Several residents of Juba also confirmed that the shooting had stopped and that calm had returned to the Thongpiny neighbourhood, where heavy sounds of guns were being heard.
In early October, President Salva Kiir dismissed Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, who had led the National Security Service since the country’s independence from Sudan in 2011, and appointed a close ally to replace him.
Gen. Koor has been under house arrest since October after he was fired from the intelligence service.