South Sudan President Dismisses Long-Serving Security Chief, Reports Reuters

NAIROBI – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the nation’s long-serving intelligence chief, Akol Koor Kuc, and replaced him with a close ally, as reported by state broadcaster SSBC citing a presidential decree.

Kuc, who led the National Security Service’s controversial internal security bureau since South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011, was removed just weeks after the transitional government announced yet another delay in elections. In a recent announcement, Kiir’s office extended the transitional period by two years, marking the second postponement of elections following a prior delay in 2022. This decision has drawn criticism from the United States and other international observers involved in the country’s peace process.

Efforts to reach the government spokesperson and the president’s office for further comment went unanswered.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have consistently raised concerns about the extensive power wielded by the NSS, which operates with impunity against civil society and activists who oppose the government.

Analysts suggest that the decision to remove the intelligence chief signals a power struggle within the highest levels of the government. "There’s been significant discussion regarding what to do with Akol Koor. The president is cautious about making quick decisions that could impact national security," said policy and security analyst Boboya James. "With the peace agreement extension, he aims to consolidate power by appointing loyalists into government positions," James added.

The new intelligence chief, Akec Tong Aleu, is known to be a close ally of President Kiir.

While South Sudan officially ended five years of civil war in 2018, ongoing disagreements between President Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar—who represented opposing factions during the conflict—have continued to hinder the completion of the peace process.