President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed long-serving intelligence chief Akol Koor Kuc and appointed ally Akec Tong Aleu amid continued delays in the electoral process and ongoing criticism of the National Security Service’s oppressive practices. The move is viewed as part of an effort to consolidate power within the government.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has officially removed the long-serving chief of intelligence, Akol Koor Kuc, who had led the National Security Service’s controversial internal security bureau since the nation’s independence in 2011. This decision was communicated via a presidential decree reported by state broadcaster SSBC. The dismissal occurred in the wake of the transitional government’s announcement of a two-year extension to the transitional period and a second postponement of elections, which drew significant criticism from the United States and other international stakeholders involved in the peace process. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have previously expressed concerns regarding the NSS’s excessive power and its operations against civil society and activists challenging the government. The appointment of Akec Tong Aleu as the new intelligence chief signals a potential consolidation of power by President Kiir, as he has chosen an ally to assume this influential position. Analysts interpret this move as indicative of ongoing power struggles within South Sudan’s leadership. “There has been a lot of reckoning in terms of what to do with Akol Koor. The president does not want very rapid decisions to cause a problem with national security,” stated policy and security analyst Boboya James. He further noted that with the extension of the peace agreement, the president would be motivated to integrate loyalists into the government.
The political landscape in South Sudan has been characterized by instability and conflict since its independence from Sudan in 2011. Following a five-year civil war that concluded in 2018, the government has struggled to implement an effective peace process. The central dynamic in the ongoing political turmoil involves the tense relationship between President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, who historically led opposing factions during the civil conflict. The National Security Service (NSS), specifically its internal security bureau, has been criticized for its authoritarian practices and its role in stifling dissent. The recent developments in leadership within the NSS underscore the continuing challenges and struggles for power within the South Sudanese government.
The dismissal of Akol Koor Kuc as South Sudan’s intelligence chief by President Salva Kiir marks a significant shift in the country’s security apparatus amid ongoing political turmoil. The appointment of a close ally, Akec Tong Aleu, suggests a strategy of consolidating power within the transitional government. As South Sudan navigates delays in the electoral process and ongoing criticisms regarding human rights abuses, these actions reflect deeper underlying power struggles and the complexities of the nation’s path toward stability and governance.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
