South Sudan’s Security Begins With You and I: Leave Gen. Akol Khoor Kuch Alone!!

By Kocrup Makuach, Nairobi, Kenya

Sunday, May 12, 2019 (PW) — The undue and fabricated allegations and malicious propaganda leveled against Gen. Akol Koor Kuch and the President Salva Kiir, are just but witch hunt by the devotees of well-known acquisitive and despicable rebel’s leaders. It beats sense for one to imagine that the National Security Services (NISS) director Gen. Akol Koor can be at the focus of fanning anarchy in the country; and to what end!

The fallacious report that South Sudan NISS boss is behind the current combat breakout against the civilian by use of unknown gunmen is all diversionary tactics employed by the known rebel groups out to achieve political gain in eccentric and undemocratic means.

We all can attest to the fact that before and in the aftermath of South Sudan’s Independence, the country has been awash with proliferation of firearms. As a result of protracted civil war in the old Sudan; the vast majority of our people have armed themselves to the teeth all in the aims of fighting against Khartoum’s oppressive regimes during the war of liberation struggle.

On 9th July 2011, South Sudan gained her statehood and unfortunately, there has never been simultaneous or a proper disarmament exercise carried out by the state. Owing to this datum, the nation has not experienced peace and stability due to the continuation of a series of insecurity and inter- communal violence across the country.

In December 2013, war broke out as a result of political wrangling or misunderstanding among the leaders within ruling Party, SPLM. Since then, civil strife has remained rife across the country. The rebels have never adhered to cessation of hostilities and peace agreements, which have been signed several times.

In countries over the world, especially those wars- torn, it is obvious that they experience characteristics of fragilities and economic failure due to civil wars, insecurities and lawlessness. To such nations, the state of anarchy becomes metastasized, as part and parcel of life for the locals and South Sudan is not expectation or immune from this problem.

By the way, closer looks at our inter-community’s relations reveal rivalry that may date way before the cessation civil strife. Our country‘s states had been facing series of inter- communal fratricidal fighting and cattle rustlings: for example, Gogrial state -Apuk VS Aguok; Tonj state against itself; Lakes state against itself; Unity Sates against itself; and Greater Bor Vs Murle.

Juba- the South Sudan capital city had been awash with series of insecurity and delinquency even before the July and December 2013 deadly fighting. Aimless killings and extra- judicial killings were reported then. To me these remain to be the acts of consistent criminal elements that have now gained support from high-handed insurgents. I thus find the current national security breach blame solely on the director of National Security Services (NISS), Gen. Akol to be misplaced and unfounded. 

There is not a single proof or report by any individual or institution claiming of arming of the warring communities by Gen. Akol Koor. I find it political and malicious for some people place blame or pass the bucks on him as an individual in matters that regard national security.

A recent report by a human rights body indicated that South Sudan is currently infested with all manner of unregulated ammunitions that rest in the hands of inpatient, ethnic and politically charged individuals. Such ammunitions include:

A. Uberti, Srl. Revolvers. … 
AAI Corporation. Launchers. … 
Accuracy International. Rifles. … 
Advanced Armament Corporation. Personal Defense Weapons. … 
Aeroknox. Aeroknox XM556 (US – Machine Gun – 5.56×45mm NATO)
Akdal Arms. Pistols. …Tanks and light weapons.

All these armament and proliferation of firearms have been going on in the country. Since the eruption of war, the rebels have always been sneaking in with the deadly weapons and thus killing people indiscriminately.

For couple of months now, the rebels have been ambushing, killing and slaughtering innocent civilians; most of whom are women, children and the elderly. These atrocities have been committed along busy roads; e.g., Nimule, Yei, Mundari, Terekeka and other places across the country.

Is Gen. Akol responsible for these unacceptable killings? Let us all be realistic and logical when airing out our grievances on social media or in the public. We must understand that it is the responsibility of the state to protect every citizen in the country and thus must not put blame on a single person or individual.

All of us know that, South Sudan has sundry security institutions or agents; i.e. the military, police, CID, MI and National Security. Each of these institutions has a big role to protect all citizens and also to protect the nation from external threats.

Our constitution stipulates that South Sudan is founded on justice, equality, respect for human dignity and advancement of human rights alongside other fundamental freedoms. In (Art. 1) the primary responsibilities of the National Government shall be, inter alia, (e) ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of the people. (Art. 53) which are all in South Sudan’s Transitional Constitutional. Prevention of violence, every person has the inherent right to life, dignity and the integrity of his or her person, which shall be protected by law; no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life.

In my conclusion, I find it laughable that one would blame Gen. Akol Koor for security breach in the country. It’s time each one of us to take responsibility for our security and nation at large. As the government now embarks on a disarmament exercise, let us cooperate and give up illegal firearms. Doing so means that we surrender to the rule of law.

I urge all South Sudanese not to listen to propaganda and malicious allegations, which have been leveled on Gen. Akol in Juba. The Gen. has been playing a big role in protecting all the citizens in Juba and across the country. In December 2013 violence, Gen. Akol had put security measures to protect vulnerable groups, especially women, children and elderly persons who were running for their shelters, IDPS and in many other places.

In July, 2016 deadly fighting, Gen. Akol went out of his way to ensure that both civilians and foreigners were protected even in the prevailing circumstances of massive and unregulated firearms in the hands of delinquents.

It’s time for all of us as South Sudanese citizens to appreciate and acknowledge the nationalistic and patriotic work, which has been done by Gen. Akol Koor under the leadership of H.E, President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

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