![South Sudan soldiers seen along Customs-ministries-Juba road. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/thumbs_b_c_e9950d6e4f322d8869cd8a1bc3dd0400.jpg?resize=864%2C486&quality=89&ssl=1)
The arrests, fueled by speculation of a coup against President Salva Kiir, involved officers from the National Security Service (NSS) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
The source, speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday night, revealed that 17 NSS officers and ten members of the SSPDF’s Tiger battalion were among those arrested.
“The reason for the arrest is that some individuals are untrusted, and the deployment of the forces is essentially due to these arrests,” the well-placed source who preferred not to be named said.
“In the side of the SSPDF, ten have been arrested. So, the Tiger arrested their own people and the NSS arrested their own men, and it was not Tiger fighting against Tiger or confronting each other,” the source revealed.
The motive behind the arrests was described by the source as the need to address “untrustworthy” elements within their ranks.
South Sudan army had on Saturday dismissed any immediate threat of a coup.
SSPDF spokesman Lul Ruai Koang dismissed the claims as baseless allegations, labeling the accusers as “liars.”
The detentions have sparked concerns about the political stability of South Sudan, a nation plagued by conflict and instability for decades.
As the country undergoes a transition following the signing of the revitalized peace agreement, it is also gearing up for its first elections in December 2024 since gaining independence from Sudan in July 2011.
NOTICE: In a previous version of this story, it was reported that one of the detained military officers, identified as Sunday and claimed to be the son of former finance minister Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, was removed from the article. This decision was made due to difficulties in obtaining documentation confirming the accuracy of the information. After the former minister issued a statement denying having a son among those arrested and working in the NSS, we found it necessary to revise the article accordingly. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by the initial reporting. Our commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism remains a top priority.
