Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday evening after security forces attempted to arrest the former head of the National Security Service, Akol Koor Kuc. The shooting lasted for over an hour, prompting safety warnings for UN staff.

Heavy gunfire broke out in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday evening after security forces attempted to arrest the former head of the intelligence service, according to Reuters reporters and a UN staff alert.

The gunfire began around 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) and continued sporadically for over an hour before subsiding, reporters said. A UN safety alert sent to staff in Juba, seen by Reuters, stated the shooting was linked to the arrest of the former National Security Service (NSS) head. The alert advised UN staff to shelter in place.

In early October, President Salva Kiir dismissed Akol Koor Kuc, who had led the NSS since South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011, and appointed a close ally to replace him.

Army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said that Akol Koor had not been arrested and remained at his home throughout the shooting. Koang added he would brief reporters later on Friday following a meeting with other security officials. Analysts noted that Akol Koor's dismissal pointed to a power struggle at the highest levels of government. This came weeks after Kiir’s transitional government announced the elections scheduled for December would be delayed for a second time.

Rival factions loyal to Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar fought a civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The two have governed together since as part of a transitional government. While there has been relative peace, clashes between opposing forces and various armed groups in rural areas continue sporadically.

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