Confusion and mystery linger in South Sudan after the home of once-powerful former spy chief Gen Akol Koor Kuc was rocked by deadly gunfire.
The battle lasted for more than 50 minutes on Thursday night, prompting locals in the capital city of Juba to close their businesses and remain indoors for their safety.
Gen Kuc, once a key member of President Salva Kiir’s inner circle, was sacked last month from his post as the head of the National Security Services (NSS) and was placed under house arrest last week.
Two soldiers and two civilians were shot dead following a “serious misunderstanding” among troops deployed to Gen Kuc’s home, an army spokesperson told the BBC.
Gen Kuc was safe after the incident, army spokesperson Major-General Lul Ruai Koang told the BBC after the gunfire subsided.
The authorities have not revealed what sparked the “misunderstanding” at the residence of Gen Kuc.
Despite the 2018 peace agreement to end the five-year civil war, insecurity is still rife in many parts of South Sudan, including the capital and its peripheries.
However, in a press conference on Friday evening, Gen Koang gave the death toll and said that the two civilians killed in the incident had been a student and a lawyer. The pair had happened to be near Gen Kuc’s residence in Thongping suburb and were caught in the crossfire.
In addition to the two soldiers who were killed, two others were wounded.
Gen Koang told the BBC an investigation into the cause of Thursday’s shooting was being set up.
He said prior to the incident Gen Kuc’s movement had been “restricted” – but the army spokesperson was not able to say why this decision had been made.
After former spy chief was told about this restriction, “additional security forces” were deployed to his residence, Gen Koang said.
“We had a platoon-sized force that was deployed outside his residence, and we had a smaller force… inside the compound.
“Then we do not know what happened. There was a very serious misunderstanding between the two forces which resulted in exchange of gunfire,” Gen Koang said.
He said that after receiving reports of the shooting, the head of South Sudan’s defence forces, Gen Santino Deng, rushed to the scene and ordered the forces to stop firing.
Gen Kuc has been transferred from his home in Thongping to his second residence in the suburb of Jebel, which sits south of Juba, Gen Koang said.
On 2 October, President Kirr announced he had sacked the general in a presidential decree. However, he did not give his reasons for the move.
Analysts said Gen Kuc’s sacking may have signalled an internal power-struggle – with some believing the general may have been lined up to one day take over from the 73-year-old president.
It is not known how old the former spy is – but he is believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s.
After being removed from the post of spy chief, Gen Kuc was appointed governor of the president’s home state, Warrap.
Some believed the move could help to quell the violence in Warrup, one of South Sudan’s conflict hotspots. The job as governor would also have given Gen Kuc experience in a civilian role, which some believed may have been a way of preparing him for political life.
However, just a few days later, Gen Kuc’s governor role was revoked by the president.
More BBC stories from South Sudan:
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