South Sudan’s army has cleared Defence and Veterans Affairs Undersecretary Lt. Gen. Gregory Deng Kuac, President Salva Kiir’s brother-in-law, of involvement in a shooting incident linked to a land dispute near Juba Airport in September.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang told journalists at the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) headquarters in Bilpam, Juba, on Thursday that an investigation committee found no evidence linking Gregory Deng Kuac to the dispute or the shooting on Sept. 4 and 5.
The incident attracted public attention after videos circulated showing security personnel firing live ammunition during a confrontation with civilians near the airport. Social media users subsequently said that the incident was connected to land grabbing involving Gregory Deng Kuac.
Koang said the committee interviewed the parties involved in the dispute, court officials and the head of the security forces deployed to enforce a court order. According to its findings, the stakeholders said Gregory was not involved in the matter, either in his official capacity or as a private citizen.
Investigation findings
Koang said the committee began its investigation on Sept. 7 and spent about a month examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to the report read by Koang, the dispute involved the family of the late Abunisiri Pasha, which filed a court injunction against Mary Nyanakuoi. The report identified Nyanakuoi as the wife of Maj. Gen. Simon Majak, an officer in the wildlife service, while Nyanakuoi serves as a second lieutenant in the South Sudan National Police Service.
The army spokesman said security forces had gone to the site to enforce the court order after a structure under construction was due to be demolished. He said the operation was obstructed by relatives of the defendant, leading to violence and the discharge of live ammunition.
The committee concluded that the dispute was between private parties and that Gregory had no role in it. It also alleged that some opposition supporters and individuals with personal grievances had used the incident to damage Gregory’s reputation for political purposes.
Those allegations were presented by the army spokesman as findings of the military investigation and were not independently verified.
Legal action
The committee recommended that Deng Kuac consider legal action against individuals or organisations accused of defaming him, citing South Sudanese law and legal mechanisms available within the East African region.
Koang said the committee had also recommended that the army publicly clarify the circumstances of the incident, a step he said it was taking through Thursday’s briefing.
Leer clashes
The army spokesman said clashes on Oct. 13 and 14 in Leer County, Unity State, involved rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), rather than government forces.
He said eight people were killed and several others wounded in fighting between forces loyal to Oyet Nathaniel and those aligned with Regina Joseph Kaba.
Koang said the army had forces deployed in Leer that were monitoring the clashes and protecting villages under government control from possible spillover.
He attributed the fighting to divisions within the SPLA-IO following the detention of opposition leader Riek Machar and said the movement had fragmented into several rival groups.
Koang also cited earlier confrontations in parts of Central and Western Equatoria and Unity states as evidence of divisions within the opposition movement. He said the fragmentation had weakened its central command and control, allowing some field commanders to make unilateral military decisions.
Akobo violence
Koang said communal clashes in Wecjal, Akobo County, Jonglei State, on Oct. 13 left six people dead and 17 wounded.
He said the violence began with a revenge killing between two clans before spreading to involve more than seven clans, broadly divided between the Jagwe and Cie-Nyan sub-tribes.
According to Koang, people at a nearby market were caught in crossfire, prompting relatives of those killed or wounded to join the fighting and widening the confrontation.
He said government forces were unable to intervene directly because the area where the violence occurred is under SPLA-IO control. The army instead took defensive positions and monitored the situation to prevent the clashes from spreading into areas under government control.
Election security
Koang said the SSPDF would protect South Sudan’s territorial integrity during the planned electoral process and assist police and other organised forces in providing security for politicians during campaigns.
He said the army could also secure ballot materials if requested by the relevant electoral bodies.
Koang added that serving military personnel wishing to contest political positions would first have to resign from the armed forces.
Koang announced that the army chief of defence forces had ordered forces under Brig. Gen. Gabriel Bol Anuer to report to designated assembly areas within 72 hours.
He said troops deployed in Awerial County, Lakes State, are to report to Kalthok, while those in Yirol East County are to report to Nyang. Forces stationed in Yirol town are instructed to report to the nearest of the two assembly areas.
Other forces under Bol Anuer deployed in operational theatres are ordered to remain in their respective positions and await a screening and integration committee, Koang said.
Political dialogue
Responding to questions about when clashes between government forces and opposition groups might end, Koang said a lasting solution would require political engagement.
He cited inter-party dialogue and initiatives in the region as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in South Sudan.
Koang said the army would continue carrying out its security responsibilities while political leaders pursue negotiations.
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