The violence, which erupted around 7 p.m. local time, rattled the Tongpiny area for three hours, spreading fear across the capital before subsiding.

By Emmanuel Mandella

A deadly gunfire incident in Juba on Thursday night, triggered by attempts to relocate former spy chief Gen. Akol Koor, has left four people dead and two others injured, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) confirmed on Friday.

The violence, which erupted around 7 p.m. local time, rattled the Tongpiny area for three hours, spreading fear across the capital before subsiding.

In a press conference released from the state broadcast SSBC, the SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang provided grim details of the casualties, stating that two servicemen, a University of Juba student, and a lawyer were killed.

“We have registered four fatalities. Two of our servicemen lost their lives one from within the compound and another from the forces outside the fence,” Koang said. “Tragically, two civilians were crushed to death by our armored personnel carriers during the chaos. Additionally, two others were injured, including a university student and a lawyer. Thankfully, they are now in stable condition.”

Maj. Gen. Koang assured the public that calm has been restored: “The situation is now back to business as usual. The deceased have been taken to the mortuary, and the injured are receiving medical care.”

The confrontation stemmed from the relocation of Gen. Akol Koor, the former Director General of the Internal Bureau of the National Security Service (NSS), who was dismissed by President Salva Kiir in October. Gen. Koor had been residing in a compound in Tongpiny, a situation the authorities sought to resolve following a high-level security meeting chaired by Kiir.

“Gen. Akol Koor has now been relocated to his second residence in Jebel,” Maj. Gen. Koang announced. “He moved with his wife, one bodyguard, and a cook. A senior officer will oversee his security, and additional protection has been provided. He is not under detention; it is simply a relocation,” the army spokesperson explained.

Koang described the gunfire as an unplanned incident arising from “a misunderstanding,” emphasizing that it was not part of any premeditated action by the SSPDF.

Gen. Akol Koor’s dismissal and subsequent relocation have drawn significant attention, with the evening incident causing panic across the hitherto relatively quiet city. Koor, who played a pivotal role in the NSS since independence in 2011, was replaced by a close ally of President Kiir, a move interpreted as an effort to deepen service delivery amid ongoing political developments.

As the nation grapples with this latest episode, questions remain about the broader implications of these tensions for stability in the transitional government.

Maj. Gen. Koang concluded with a call for calm, urging citizens to remain confident in the SSPDF’s ability to maintain security. “We regret the loss of lives and injuries caused, and we are committed to ensuring such incidents do not recur,” he said.

Affirming Maj. Gen. Koang’s sentiments, on Friday morning, South Sudan police spokesperson, Col. John Karasa confirmed that security personnel had been deployed at roundabouts and road intersections and the situation had returned back to normalcy.

The police spokesperson’s assurance came amidst slowed business and life in the wee hours of Friday morning, as people kept away and businesses remained closed. Armed security patrolled various sections of the city, as catholic bishops and faithful marched in Juba for the Eucharistic congress procession. 

Meanwhile, the country’s main airport, Juba International Airport, remained operational, with the Director General, Kur Kuol, assuring passengers of normal flight schedules.

As time progressed, army spokesperson called for a press briefing to outline the developments following the Thursday night incident.

Even as the authorities assured for calm, various sources have called for restrained, especially during this time when the country is embracing cohesion through peace efforts such as Tumaini Initiative among other processes.

“We have registered four fatalities. Two of our servicemen lost their lives one from within the compound and another from the forces outside the fence,” SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang.