Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday evening following the attempted arrest of Akol Koor Kuc, the former head of the National Security Service (NSS).
The shooting began around 7 p.m. and lasted for more than an hour before subsiding.
A U.N. safety alert confirmed the incident was related to Kuc’s arrest, urging staff to shelter in place.
Kuc, dismissed by President Salva Kiir in October, had led the NSS since South Sudan’s 2011 independence.
Kiir replaced him with a close ally, sparking a power struggle among top officials.
Military spokespeople are still seeking clarity on the situation.
Analysts suggest Kuc’s sacking reflects deeper tensions within the government, coinciding with the second postponement of elections originally scheduled for December.
Since the end of South Sudan’s civil war in 2018, Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar have shared power, though sporadic violence continues across the country.
