By William Chol Deng,
November 06, 2023(Nyamilepedia) — For the last few months or even years, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has been on the receiving end of endless and relentless propaganda, misinformation, gossips, fabricated and concocted stories and outright lies intentionally designed to damage his reputation and somehow to convince the President of the Republic H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit to sack Gen. Akol Koor Kuc from his position as the Director General of Internal Security Bueau (ISB). Sadly for these individuals who have spent huge amount of money and time for this smear campaign, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is still discharging his duties as duly appointed Director General of Internal Security Bureau (ISB).
Since the inception of the National Security Service in 2011, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has dedicated his time, effort, skills and resources to build the institution to what it is today. As mandated by the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan and with guidance from the President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the National Security Service is one of the most best organized security organ with well equipped with well-trained and disciplined men and women ready to counter both internal and external threats to the national security and interest of the Republic of South Sudan. This has been achieved under the leadership of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc.
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc was not appointed as Director General of Internal Security Bureau by mistake or through special favours like certain individuals that we know. He had won the trust and confidence of President Salva Kiir Mayardit since the days of the liberation struggle and immediately after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) when he served as Chief of Security and Protection in the Office of the President as well as Deputy Director of the now defunct Special Branch.
Under the leadership of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, the National Security Service has grown tremendously and becoming a force to reckon within the region and beyond as far as information gathering and intelligence analysis is concerned. It is not an easy task considering that South Sudan became an independent state just 12 years ago. It takes a lot of hardwork, dedication, determination and patriotism to do this. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has done it and he is forging ahead because he has a vision and he understand his mission and the responsibilities assigned to him by the President of the Republic.
Supporting Peace Process and Political Leadership
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc also played a leading role in the return to Juba of armed groups and individuals who were not part of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCISS). For example, Gen. Johnson Olony is back to Juba to work with President Salva Kiir Mayardit for peace especially in Upper Nile Region. As a result of this, Upper Nile Region and particularly Upper Nile State is experiencing relative peace compared to before Gen. Olony’s team came to Juba. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is also playing an instrumental role in convincing the so-called hold-out groups in the ongoing peace talks in Rome, Italy to join the peace process in the country. He is doing this in line with the mandate given to him by the President of the Republic, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit to achieve peace and unity in the country.
Modernize the National Security Service
For those of who have driven along Jebel Road just off Yei Road, you will be amaze with the new buildings that have come up opposite and adjacent to the headquarters of the Internal Security Bureau. These magnificent buildings are property of the National Security Service. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has invested the meagre capital expenditure resources allocated to the National Security Service to put permanent structures that befits the stature of the institution so important as the National Security Service. I dare say that National Security Service is one among the few government institutions that has prudently utilized resources budgeted for under the capital expenditure. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is a result-driven no-nonsense, disciplined military officer who understands his assignment as mandated by the President of the Republic.
Discipline Organized Force
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has ensured that the officers and non-officers of the National Security Service understand their mandate as well as their duties and responsibilities to the State. Under his watch, members of the National Security Service involved in crimes against civilians have been arrested, investigated and prosecuted in the court of law. This is a true demonstration that the National Security Service is not above the law and that it is answerable to the civilian government and political leadership.
Integrity and incorruptible
Since his appointment as the Director General of the National Security Service, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has never been involved in any corruption scandal that has bedeviled the Government of South Sudan since its inception. Despite enormous powers that he wields as spy chief, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has never use his position or privilege to enrich himself or even intimidate any government officials to render him any favours. To the contrary, he has used the extensive intelligence network to expose serious corruption scandals and at times stop some of these corrupt deals that would have plunge South Sudan to its knees economically. In fact some of the individuals fighting Gen. Akol Koor Kuc are some of the individuals that he stopped from looting public resources.
Competent, qualified and experienced
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is disciplined, competent, qualified and experienced military and intelligence officer. He is witty, intelligent, charismatic, workaholic and extremely organized individual. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is an avid reader. Despite his extremely busy schedule as a spy chief, Gen. Akol Koor took time to horn his skills by enrolling for various university courses in management and public administration as well as security studies. He possesses invaluable skills and experience in public affairs and management that has enable him to successfully manage the National Security Service for the last 12 years.
He is not one of those senior government officials holding critical government officials who cannot wait to leave the office to go play cards or dominoes under a tree.
Loyalty to the President and State
Gen. Akol Koor Kuc loyalty to President Salva Kiir Mayardit is unquestionable and unshakable. During one of my meetings with Gen. Akol Koor, I asked him about these numerous wild rumours and allegations that “he is planning a coup against the President of the Republic”. He looked at me for a few minutes as he shakes his head and responded in calm tone, “Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit is like a father-figure to me. He chose me among thousands of generals some of whom were more senior and experienced than me. How then do I turn against a person who has made me who I am today? I serve the State at the discretion of the President who has been a Constitutional mandate and power given to him by the people of South Sudan”, he said.
Despite this loyalty and commitment, there are certain individuals who are hell-bent on tarnishing the image of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc. They have manufactured all sorts of lies, stories, baseless allegations, documented and fabricated reports from the so-called “foreign intelligence organizations”. They have produced forged bank statements of fake off shore bank accounts and alleged list of properties owned by Gen. Akol Koor Kuc. To top up their desperation and naivety, they have gone to an extent of engaging witch doctors allegedly hired by Gen. Akol Koor to “kill President Salva Kiir Mayardit”. These individuals are going to all this extent just to create a rift between Gen. Akol Koor and the President so as to convince the President to fire Gen. Akol Koor from his position.
Conclusion
As a public servant, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc cannot escape criticism from the citizens of South Sudan as he discharges his duties. However, these criticisms ought to be constructive and related to the performance of his duties as an appointed public official. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is the true definition of “right man in the right place”. He is not a politician; he is a career military and security officer. He is result-driven, disciplined and a man of unquestionable integrity.
Apart from his impeccable public service record, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc is a devoted Christian and a family man. Since his appointment, he has served the President and people of South Sudan with utmost dedication and commitment. His records in the public service speaks for itself. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc has earned the trust and confidence of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and he is diligently and competently discharging his duties and responsibilities as mandated by the President of the Republic and the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.
In the next article, we will expose names and details of individuals and senior government officials who have been carrying out this smear campaign against Gen. Akol Koor Kuc. Watch this space.
The writer is an Author, Security Analyst and Commentator on current Political, Economic and Social issues in South Sudan. He can be reached via deng.williamchol@gmail.com.
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