Activist pleads with Kiir to pardon former spy chief Akol Koor

JUBA – A South Sudanese activist has appealed to President Salva Kiir to pardon and release Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, the former Director General of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau (ISB).

Gen. Akol Koor was disarmed and placed under house arrest in the Juba Nabari neighbourhood in November 2024 following a violent standoff between his close personal security and security organs.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), pleaded with President Kiir to pardon and reconcile with Gen. Akol Koor.

“I would like to take this opportunity, with high respect and honour, to add my voice to the voice of the Tonj Youth, who have called upon the leadership of the country to forgive and to reconcile with the former Director of National Security, General Akol,” Yakani told the media on Wednesday.

Yakani described former spy chief General Koor as a key player in nation-building.

“So, his release is very crucial because we know that he is one of the key players, one of the persons whom we treat as an elite. He is a former Director of National Security,” he said.

He said no mistake is too big to be forgiven.

“He may have mistakes. We are human beings. All of us make mistakes. And if he conflicts with the law, then he should be taken to trial.”

Yakani said Gen. Koor’s release and his forgiveness are crucial at a stage where a country is transitioning from violence to peace.

“We cannot transition from violence to peace if we don’t forgive each other. You might have seen where the country is now.”

“We can’t sort out our political differences if we don’t embrace forgiveness and reconciliation. And we can’t transition this country from violence to peace if we don’t have a dialogue,” he said.

The heavy gunfire that erupted on 21^st November at the residence of ex-Spy Chief Akol Koor left four people dead, including two servicemen and two civilians.

The two civilians were crushed to death by armored personnel carriers, of whom one was a student of the University of Juba and the other a lawyer; he did not disclose their names.

Two civilians were shot and wounded in the crossfire.

The fighting stemmed from a misunderstanding between the recently deployed SSPDF troops and his close personal security, according to SSPDF Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang.

The authorities have not revealed what sparked the “misunderstanding” at the residence of Gen. Koor.