South Sudan National Security Institutions: Establishing Roles and Agency Representations
Deng Duot D’Ajur
By Deng Duot D’Ajur, Brisbane, Australia
Friday, 11 October 2024 (PW) – In this digital age, the significance of South Sudan’s security and intelligence institutions cannot be overstated. Intelligence operations require specific objectives to address serious national issues effectively. The nation’s security institutions must approach intelligence matters strategically, with a major shift in government policy necessary to confront both international and domestic threats to the state. Official national intelligence organizations, such as Internal and External Services, must develop specialized policies designed to withstand the most challenging intelligence situations, whether in covert or overt operations.
It is important to acknowledge the contributions of Gen. Akol Khor Kuch, the former Director General (DG) of South Sudan Internal Security Bureau (ISB). During his 13-year tenure, Gen. Kuch significantly enhanced the power and reach of internal security within South Sudan’s domestic affairs. His legacy is marked by a strengthened intelligence apparatus and improved coordination between various security agencies. However, his recent dismissal from the position has led to discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability within the nation’s security institutions. The incoming director faces the challenge of building upon Gen. Kuch’s accomplishments while addressing concerns about potential overreach and the need for more robust oversight mechanisms.
Policymakers in the governing political party, foreign affairs, and military institutions heavily rely on intelligence analysis and its outcomes to inform their decisions. The police force, acting on behalf of the government, enforces the law to maintain order. In principle, the police force remains the primary agency capable of providing meaningful solutions for organizations and government institutions in addressing national security challenges.
South Sudan’s national security institutions require interagency cooperation among the Central Investigation Department (C.I.D) within the South Sudan National Police Service (S.S.N.P.S), Internal Security Bureau and General Intelligence Bureau of National Security Service (NSS), Military Intelligence (M.I), and customs police. Each agency plays a crucial role in safeguarding national integrity and interests.
The C.I.D, M.I, and national security agencies possess both signals (SIGINT) and human (HUMINT) intelligence gathering capabilities. These enable them to intercept messages between relevant actors and collect intelligence beyond South Sudan’s borders, identifying potential links to domestic criminal activities and external threats. The ISB’s financial intelligence department plays a pivotal role in monitoring financial transactions to detect money laundering, organized crime, tax evasion, fraud involving public funds, and terrorism financing, including activities of unknown gunmen.
South Sudan’s customs force assists in detecting the illicit movement of prohibited goods and individuals at the nation’s borders. They employ HUMINT intelligence collection through interviews with persons entering South Sudan and conduct search and seizure activities on incoming goods. Military intelligence is responsible for analyzing all relevant intelligence information and planning military operations to counter potential aggression from foreign nations such as Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and others.
To address the complex security situation in South Sudan, a collaborative national security objective should be initiated. This would involve the C.I.D, customs police, ISB, and GIB working together to investigate suspected international criminal activities such as drug trafficking operations and money laundering. This collaboration would employ various human, technical, and liaison intelligence collection methods to meet information requirements, including covert physical and communication surveillance, financial monitoring, and counterintelligence operations.
The primary focus of these collection operations would be on understanding the organizational structure and relationships of individuals involved in transnational, serious, and organized crime. This knowledge would inform future disruption methods to be applied when appropriate.
Key mechanisms for engaging and collaborating with the identified agencies should include sharing intelligence through secure communication channels, such as encrypted messaging or online portals. Joint task forces will ensure that knowledge and resources are shared amongst agencies, supporting their investigations and analysis processes, and providing valuable insights to the nation. Weekly briefings and updates will facilitate information coordination and maintain the efficiency of investigations. These mechanisms should be outlined in a memorandum of understanding to formalize the cooperation and collaboration processes between agencies.
Collaboration with and utilization of the appropriate capabilities and resources of local and international agencies is essential. This not only facilitates the sharing of relevant information but also allows agencies to conduct thorough decision-making, trend and pattern analysis, and risk assessment processes. Such collaboration promotes the consideration of multiple viewpoints and ideas, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the situation and the development of effective intelligence activities.
The C.I.D and National Security agencies should assist in collaborating with international law enforcement agencies to share and gather valuable intelligence. They can undertake surveillance and counter-intelligence operations, as well as provide technological capabilities for communication interceptions. The customs police can gather and provide intelligence on suspicious, significant, and international funds transactions to South Sudan’s law enforcement agencies.
The financial intelligence department should establish memoranda of understanding with bordering countries to exchange and gather financial intelligence. Customs Police resources can assist in monitoring activities focused on the movement of prohibited goods into South Sudan, targeting imports related to foreign and domestic money laundering operations.
Immigration and customs police can collect information from relevant travelers, providing notification of the arrival of key figures connected to organized crime and other individuals who might intend to harm South Sudan’s national interests and integrity. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) relating to key individuals involved in this intelligence collaboration can determine connections between persons of interest, prior illegal activities, and the ownership structure of businesses and travelers. When integrated with classified sources, this enhances the reliability and credibility of OSINT information, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the investigative challenges facing South Sudan’s national security agency.
In summary, the four intelligence agencies—Central Investigation Department (CID), Internal Security Bureau (ISB), General Intelligence Bureau (G.I.B), Military Intelligence (M.I)—along with the immigration and customs police should engage in collaborative efforts to combat organized crime in South Sudan. There are important lessons to be learned from this process, given the vital role intelligence organizations can play in disrupting organized crime networks in the country.
Intelligence organizations such as the Central Intelligence Agency, Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, MI5 and MI6 in the United Kingdom, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Secret Intelligence Organization, and Mossad in Israel have demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence collaboration in combating and disrupting organized crime within their respective countries. South Sudan must adopt a similar collaborative approach to reduce crime levels and minimize intelligence failures.
It is crucial to emphasize the importance of ethics, law, and professionalism in intelligence operations. The outcomes of intelligence operations and collaboration, along with clearly defined roles and objectives, can mitigate risks associated with human factors and legal aspects while fostering public trust. The recent appointment of a new director for the Internal Security Bureau brings hope for increased transparency and a well-established shift in how this pivotal institution can cooperate with other agencies.
Intelligence officers advise that these national agencies within South Sudan’s government intelligence institutions should prioritize the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information. The primary concern should be national security, ensuring the safety of the nation’s infrastructure and its citizens.
Deng Duot D’Ajur is a concerned South Sudanese Australian who can be reached via his email address: Deng Duot <dengduotdeng@gmail.com>
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