A court in South Sudan has awarded $1.45 million in compensation to two people injured in a shooting outside the Juba residence of former National Security Service (NSS) Internal Security Bureau chief General Akol Koor Kuc.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Ajok Tito Telar, a First Grade County Court judge exercising the powers of a High Court. The case was filed against the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Angelo Thon Pal, Manawa Gabriel Makwach was awarded $1,074,180, while Agum Andrea received $381,000.
The amounts cover medical expenses, other losses and moral damages, excluding legal and court fees.
The court also ordered the ministry to pay Makwach 30 head of cattle under customary tradition after a medical assessment found he had sustained a 60% disability.
The case stems from a shooting on November 21, 2024, in which both victims were injured while travelling in their vehicles.
Meanwhile, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said it was too early to comment on the ruling, according to Radio Tamazuj.
“I have just read in the media a few minutes ago,” Koang was quoted as saying. “At the moment, it is too early.”
Koang said the ministry’s leadership would need to review the judgment with its legal team before deciding how to respond.
The victims have called for the compensation to be paid, while their lawyer said they plan to open an execution file through the court to compel enforcement of the judgment.
