S. Sudan spy chief opens private airport in Tonj, Kiir questions motives

June 10, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Awul airport opened by South Sudan spy chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc (Photo credit: South Sudan News Now)

June 10, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan’s national security chief, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, has opened a private airport in a remote village in Tonj of the country’s Warrap state, sources with direct knowledge told South Sudan News Now.

One security official who spoke from Juba said the construction of the airport begun in January this year and was complete a few weeks ago and was inaugurated by the security chief with the approval of the director of South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) David Subek on Tuesday.

“The director of The Internal Security Bureau (ISB) of the National Security Service (NSS) Lt. Gen. Akol Koor has opened a private airport in Tonj North County. The airport was opened yesterday with blessings from the director of civil aviation authority,” the security officer said on condition of anonymity.

“The airport is exactly opened at Awul village. It is a remote village in Tonj North County and it is private not public. We don’t know why the airport has been opened in a village like that,” the source added.

Kiir ‘questions’ motive

President Salva Kiir Mayardit is reportedly not happy about the new airport and has questioned the national security chief on motives why an airport is build in a remote village on personal basis.

“President Salva Kiir now questions the motive. This is not something easy, opening an airport on a private basis is not usual,” a source at the presidency said from Juba.