The Director General of South Sudan’s Traffic Police Service, Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot, has denied reports that he refused a transfer to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State as police commissioner.
Akot spoke to reporters in Juba on Tuesday evening after social media reports claimed he had defied an order by Inspector General of Police Gen. Abraham Manyuat to relocate.
“I heard on social media that I refused to be transferred and that I went to the office and caused fighting there, but it is not true. I have been at my house since yesterday [Monday],” Akot said. “I did not receive any official transfer letter; I just saw it online.”
He said the traffic police headquarters in Juba had been blocked on Monday, preventing staff from entering or leaving. “The guards were stripped of their guns, and I asked why. If there is a problem, they can detain me at home if it is personal,” he said.
Akot added that when he contacted Deputy Interior Minister Gen. Mangar Buong, he said he was not aware of any transfer order or of the blockade.
“I am ready to implement any transfer order, but I am unhappy with the way it was done without following proper procedure,” he said.
He dismissed online claims that he had refused to take orders from the Inspector General, saying: “That is not true. These are just rumours. As a police officer, it is normal to be transferred.”
According to a police reshuffle order dated Nov. 11 and seen by Radio Tamazuj, Akot was among 13 senior officers reassigned by Gen. Manyuat in a move said to have been approved by President Salva Kiir. The order directed all affected officers to hand over duties within 72 hours.
Akot, who has served as director general of the traffic police in Juba for several years, was appointed Police Commissioner for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
He rose to prominence in October 2023 after a public dispute with the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA), which he described as “illegitimate and unregistered.”
The remarks came amid a disagreement over a presidentially backed law abolishing annual vehicle logbook renewals to reduce harassment of motorists.
Although he initially supported the measure, Akot later accused lawmakers of interfering in police work and refused to appear before parliament when summoned.
Earlier this year, he drew further criticism after announcing that the validity of driving licences would be reduced from five years to one — a decision later overturned by the Ministry of Interior.
Police spokesperson Gen. James Monday Enoka was not immediately available for comment on the latest reshuffle.
