South Sudanese President Replaces Long-Standing Intelligence Chief Amid Electoral Delays

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed intelligence chief Akol Koor Kuc, replacing him with a loyal ally, Akec Tong Aleu. This decision follows another delay in the electoral process, increasing scrutiny from international observers. Rights organizations have raised concerns about the excessive power of the National Security Service. Analysts interpret the move as part of a larger power consolidation effort by Kiir amidst ongoing political instability.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has removed the long-serving head of the internal security bureau of the National Security Service, Akol Koor Kuc, as reported by the state broadcaster SSBC, referencing a presidential decree. Akol Koor has been in his position since the nation gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and his dismissal comes on the heels of the transitional government’s announcement of yet another delay in the electoral process. In the preceding month, the president’s office declared an extension of the transitional period by two years, further postponing elections, which had already been delayed in 2022. Such decisions have attracted critical responses from the United States and other international stakeholders involved in South Sudan’s peace agreements. Efforts to confirm this report from government representatives went unanswered. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have previously cautioned that the National Security Service possesses excessive authority, often undermining civil society and repressing dissent. Experts interpret President Kiir’s decision to replace the intelligence chief as indicative of underlying power struggles within the government. “There has been a lot of reckoning in terms of what to do with Akol Koor. The president does not wish for swift actions to disrupt national security,” stated policy and security analyst Boboya James. Furthermore, he noted, “With the extension of the peace agreement, he would want to consolidate power by beginning to bring loyalists” into important government roles. The newly appointed intelligence chief, Akec Tong Aleu, is noted to be a close confidant of President Kiir. Despite the conclusion of a five-year civil conflict in 2018, ongoing disagreements between President Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar—who led rival factions during the war—continue to impede the complete realization of the peace process.

The political landscape in South Sudan has been marked by instability and power struggles since its independence in 2011. The country emerged from a protracted civil war in 2018, yet the fragile peace established has been jeopardized by ongoing divisions between President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, each having led opposing factions during the conflict. The National Security Service, particularly its internal security bureau, has faced significant criticism for its overreach and aggressive tactics against dissenting voices, prompting calls for greater accountability and reforms within the security apparatus. The dismissal of Akol Koor Kuc illustrates the precarious nature of political alliances in a government where consolidating power among loyalists is paramount for stability, especially following election delays that increase tensions both domestically and internationally.

The recent dismissal of Akol Koor Kuc as head of the internal security bureau underscores significant political maneuvering by President Salva Kiir amidst ongoing tensions and the implementation of transitional governance in South Sudan. His replacement with Akec Tong Aleu, who is aligned with Kiir, indicates an aim to solidify power in the face of criticism regarding human rights abuses and election delays. This decision highlights a broader struggle within the government, entwined with the complexities of a peace process that remains fragile as the nation transitions from a history of conflict to stable governance.

Original Source: www.voanews.com