Probe underway as fire damages National Security-ISB Headquarters

An overnight fire damaged part of the headquarters of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau (ISB), infamously known as the “Blue House,” in Juba, authorities said Wednesday.

ISB spokesperson David John Kumuri told reporters that the fire broke out at around 12:15 a.m., but that no one was killed or injured, all personnel were accounted for, and that investigations into the cause were ongoing.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault,” he said, adding that investigators were working to determine the exact cause and assess the full extent of the damage.

Kumuri urged the public not to speculate and wait for the results of the investigations.

He also dismissed reports circulating on social media that detainees held at the facility had been harmed, saying only the administration section of the complex was affected.

“The inmates are safe,” he said. “These are false allegations intended to create confusion among the public.”

The authorities also sought to reassure the public that the incident had not disrupted the country’s security apparatus.

“The Internal Security Bureau wishes to reassure the public that its core operations and national security functions remain fully operational and unaffected,” the spokesperson said.

Responding to questions about reports of increased security around the area, the spokesperson said any roadblocks were part of normal security measures and preparations ahead of South Sudan’s Independence Day celebrations.

He also said allegations that security personnel had confiscated food from civilians at checkpoints would be investigated, adding that anyone found responsible would face arrest and prosecution.

The Blue House is dreaded by citizens and is renowned for holding political and other prisoners and for its torture chambers. Many inmates have disappeared and/or died there over the years.

The “Blue House” serves as the headquarters of the Internal Security Bureau, one of the branches of South Sudan’s National Security Service. Authorities have not said how long the investigation into the fire is expected to take.