By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan Civil Society Forum has urged former Director General of National Security, Gen. Akol Koor, and the government to initiate a dialogue.
This appeal follows an incident on Thursday evening involving a confirmed misunderstanding between government forces and loyalists of the former chief, which led to an armed confrontation.
In their press release, the Civil Society Forum condemned the use of violence in these misunderstandings and called for an end to the conflicts between government forces and Akol’s supporters.
“The civil society forum calls upon the former Director General of National Security, Gen. Akol Koor, and his supporters to pursue the path of peaceful resolution of any disagreement. through dialogue” the statement partly.
“The society calls for maximum restraint by the political leadership, military, and security organs to avert any violent attempts to resolve this stalemate facing the country,” it added.
The group appealed to the government to focus on ways to silence guns in the towns, citing that the already suffering population continues to panic as their property can be looted.
The Civil society urged the president to address the masses and assured them of the security status of the country.
With hope to avoid further escalation, the group called upon the people of South Sudan to remain calm and avoid propaganda, misinformation, and hate speeches.
On his part, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), urged the army officers never to be loyal to individuals or communities but to the constitution.
“South Sudanese political elites and senior security officers are more loyal to their grouping and ethnic lines than to the nation and the safety and protection of the civilians,” he said.
On Thursday, heavy gunfire erupted at the home of the country’s former spy chief, Akol Koor, who has been under alleged house arrest.
However, the Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang confirmed the incident and said that it was a misunderstanding force deployed at the former chief house.
He called for calm, adding that the problem would be solved.