Kiir ousts veteran national security chief Gen. Akol Koor

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday night unexpectedly removed General Akol Koor Kuc, the long-serving head of the National Security Service (NSS), in a presidential decree that signals a major change at the helm of the powerful intelligence agency.

The decree, read on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), announced that Akech Tong Aleu, a former governor of Warrap State and current undersecretary at the defense ministry, would replace Akol as the new director general of the NSS’s Internal Security Bureau (ISB).

Aleu’s appointment brings fresh leadership to an agency that has been under Akol’s control since South Sudan gained independence in 2011.

In a separate decree, Kiir dismissed Kuol Muor Muor, the governor of Warrap State, appointing General Akol to the role. Warrap State, known for its volatility, will now be led by the former intelligence chief. There was no immediate public reaction from General Akol, though it has long been speculated that he and President Kiir have had disagreements over the direction of the country.

Akol’s career as head of the Internal Security Bureau dates back to July 9, 2011, the day South Sudan declared independence. His position replaced the now-defunct Special Branch (SB), a security unit of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) that had been created by the Southern Sudan regional government during the pre-independence era to safeguard the regional presidency.

At the onset of the transition period, personnel from various intelligence branches of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), including the General Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence, and Signal Units, were integrated into the newly formed NSS.

However, mistrust between the northern and southern parts of Sudan persisted for decades, leading the SPLM/A to establish parallel institutions to protect the nascent Southern Sudan government from perceived infiltration by Khartoum.

The Special Branch, created in 2006, was part of this strategy, alongside the Public Security department, which had provided security in areas controlled by the SPLM/A during the civil war. Akol’s tenure as the head of South Sudan’s Internal Security Bureau, however, has been marked by controversy.

Over the years, Akol and the NSS have faced sharp criticism from international human rights groups and Western governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Various reports have accused the NSS of engaging in human rights abuses such as arbitrary detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

These allegations have been documented by organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations, which have reported cases of journalists, opposition members, and activists being detained without formal charges and held in harsh conditions for extended periods.

The accusations against the NSS also include the use of torture, with some detainees reportedly dying in custody due to mistreatment. In addition to the human rights concerns, the agency has also been implicated in broader issues of governance and corruption.

A report by The Sentry last year alleged that the NSS had entrenched itself within key state institutions, wielding substantial influence over government decisions and public resources, dominating even the country’s media sector.

The report went further, accusing senior NSS officials of engaging in corrupt practices, including the embezzlement of public funds and undermining the country’s governance systems. These claims have reinforced concerns about the agency’s growing power under Akol’s leadership, raising questions about the accountability of South Sudan’s intelligence apparatus.

With Akol’s removal and Aleu stepping in as his replacement, it remains to be seen how the NSS will adapt to the leadership change and whether the agency will undergo reforms in response to the persistent international pressure.