Kiir accuses ‘beneficiaries of war’ of spreading rumors after Juba gunfire

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday criticized individuals he described as “beneficiaries of war” for spreading rumors, following a week of tension marked by heavy gunfire in the capital, Juba, that drove residents to seek safety in IDP camps.

In a national address, Kiir assured citizens that the situation in the country was stable, dismissing claims of unrest within the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), the country’s traditional military, as baseless.

“I am here to address the panic and fear that happened on Tuesday 26th November 2024. The misinformation circulating of a tension in the army headquarters is untrue. Our army is intact and together with other security agencies are discharging their patriotic duty effectively,” Kiir said.

The president blamed the rumors on what he termed as “beneficiaries of war,” accusing them of being unsettled by the ongoing peace brought by the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

“The beneficiaries of war and instability are behind these rumors. They have no benefit in peace. They are disappointed that our country is peaceful since we signed the Revitalized Agreement in 2018. They spread unfounded rumors to instill fear and sense of uncertainty in citizens’ minds,” Kiir said.

“As your president, I am here to assure you that our country is secure and safe. I said it time and again that our country will not return to war. We will embrace dialogue to resolve our differences,” he added.

Kiir urged the public to ignore rumors and continue their daily activities.

“I appeal to you to go about your businesses, so we can collectively build our beautiful country. Learn to defy these rumors, never take them seriously, because they are lies,” he said.

Kiir’s remarks came a week after heavy gunfire erupted in Juba when military generals, acting on his orders, reportedly attempted to arrest the former head of the national security service, General Akol Koor.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday evening last week, sparked panic of large-scale violence reminiscent to the December 2013 and July 2016 fighting in the capital Juba which triggered the country’s first-ever civil war as a nation.

Earlier this week, new rumors circulated that Kiir had ordered the arrest of the chief of military intelligence, Marshall Stephen, who was allegedly involved in last week’s confrontation with General Akol.

The speculation caused panic among Juba residents, with vendors and pedestrians in busy markets such as Customs and Konyokonyo rushing home.