South Sudan’s army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, said on Tuesday it was too early to comment on a court order requiring the Ministry of Defence to pay $1.4 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.
Koang told Radio Tamazuj that the ministry’s leadership needs to review the judgment with its legal team before issuing a response.
“I have just read in the media a few minutes ago,” Koang said. “At the moment, it is too early.”
He said the ministry’s leadership needs to examine the verdict and seek legal advice before deciding how to respond.
“If I am delegated to do it on their behalf, then I would be able to respond,” Koang said.
The court on Tuesday awarded Manawa Gabriel Makwach $1,074,180 and Agum Andrea $381,000 in compensation for medical expenses, property losses and moral damages. The total monetary award was $1,455,180, excluding court and legal fees.
The court also ordered the defense ministry to pay Makwach 30 head of cattle in accordance with customary tradition after a medical assessment found that he had sustained a 60% disability.
The case stemmed from a shooting on November 21, 2024, in which Makwach and Andrea were injured while travelling in their vehicles.
Their lawyer, Angelo Thon Pal, said they had initially pursued the matter through the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs before obtaining permission to sue under Section 33(2) of the Code of Civil Procedures Act, 2007.
Pal said the next step is to open an execution file through the court, after which the defense ministry would be summoned to implement the judgment. He said the court would enforce its decisions if the ministry failed to comply.
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