South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Akol Koor Kuc, the long-serving head of the National Security Service’s internal security bureau, and replaced him with a trusted ally, according to a presidential decree reported by state broadcaster SSBC.
Kuc, who had held the position since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, was removed just weeks after the government announced a further delay in elections, pushing them back another two years. The postponement, following a similar delay in 2022, has drawn international criticism, including from the United States, over the country’s stalled peace process.
Rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have frequently criticized the National Security Service for operating with excessive power and impunity, particularly in its treatment of civil society and activists.
Analysts suggest the dismissal signals a power shift within the government. Boboya James, a policy and security analyst, noted that Kiir may be consolidating power by bringing loyalists into key positions as the peace process is extended. The new intelligence chief, Akec Tong Aleu, is a close ally of Kiir.
South Sudan, which ended a five-year civil war in 2018, continues to face challenges in its peace process, with lingering tensions between Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, complicating efforts to solidify long-term stability.
