August 3, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has reportedly ordered the closure of a private airport opened in June by National Security Chief General Akol Koor in a remote village in Tonj North County.
The revelation comes as reports of escalating tensions between Kiir and Akol circulates on social media after claims the NSS chief was working to replace president Kiir.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia this evening, a senior government official said from Juba that the tensions between Kiir and Akol Koor started in mid-July when President Salva Kiir ordered the closure of Awul airstrip opened by Akol Koor in June.
“The reported tensions between President Salva and Director of Internal Security Bureau (ISB) General Akol Koor began in July when President Salva Kiir ordered the closure of Awul airport,” the official said.
“President Kiir believes that it is not right for a security official to operate an airstrip as private property. We don’t need airports in villages at the moment when we don’t actually have them in big towns,” the official added.
