PRESS RELEASE | INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
ON BREWING COUP PLOT IN JUBA
IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
Date: 19 March 2026
SUBJECT: HEIGHTENED SECURITY ALERT OVER ALLEGED UNCONSTITUTIONAL POWER MANEUVERS
This office has received multiple converging reports from political and security circles indicating increased covert coordination among certain actors suspected of exploring avenues to undermine the constitutional order of the Republic of South Sudan. There is a group made of high-level national government Officials and Senior Security officials.
THE COUP PLOT AND THE PARTIES,
The head of the alleged coup plot as obtained from reliable source is Chief of General Staff of the SSPDF, General Paul Nang Majok who convened the meeting with the following security and government officials:
1) Manut Wol Deng.
2) Ateny Wëk Ateny.
3) Aleudit Ayieny Aleu.
4) Mawien Mawien Ariik (the current ISB DG).
5) Deng Wal Achien.
6) Chol Michael Makër.
7) General Akec Tong Aleu.
8) Manyang Mahom Awan.
9) Akoch Manhiem.
10) Paul Dhel Gum.
11) Paul Gual Atem.
12) Makuach Ayuel Akec.
The above persons under the leadership of Paul Nang Majok held a long meeting on the night of 19/03/2026 at the house of Akec Tong in Juba. The meeting started at around 2: 17 am until the daybreak. The meeting went on successfully and the following resolutions were adopted:
1) The need to remove the current government and then formed a new government headed by General Paul Nang Majok as the President with absolutely new structures.
2) Three new positions of Prime Minister and two Deputies should be created.
3) The Prime Minister and one Deputy (all of them men) will be appointed from the Prominent Opposition leaders who are from Bahr El Ghazal but currently outside the country.
4) The remaining Deputy would be also be the Opposition leader from Central Equatoria who is currently outside South Sudan.
THE DESIGNATED TARGETS OF THE COUP
The following people will be eliminated if coup succeeds so that their killings will be considered as the result of the chaos that comes with the coup:
a) The Prominent Political Detainees including: Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Gen Akol Koor Kuc and Benjamin Bol Bol;
b) Members of the first Family; and
c) Military Officers including: General Manasa Machar, Brig. General Kuot Garang Kuot and Deng Lual Wol.
This report is based on reliable source, which raises serious national security concerns that cannot be ignored. Preliminary indications suggest:
- The recalling of many troops from frontlines to Juba without any explanation.
- Many consistently rumours of coup that has been going on around J1.
- Series of closed-door meetings involving the above influential political and security-linked figures;
- The SPLM-IG and Security sector sabotage of the effective implementation of the R-ARCSS;
- The constant coming of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), which are more than 2000 troops in addition to their forces that were there already;
- The decision to use force in order to destroy the opposition forces in order to leave the vacuum for the SSPDF;
- Heightened internal alignments and mobilization patterns outside formal constitutional frameworks; and
- Rising rhetoric and narratives that could justify extra-legal transitions of power.
CRITICAL NOTE:
The risk environment is elevated, and the spread of such reports, if left unchecked, could trigger instability.
POSITION:
South Sudan must not, and will not, return to governance through coercion, conspiracy, or unconstitutional force. The painful lessons of the Old Sudan and our short history, demand vigilance, restraint, and firm adherence to the rule of law.
CALL TO ACTION:
- Citizens (domestic and diaspora): Remain calm, alert, and be united.
- Reject any illegal attempt for the army to take power so that South Sudan should not set the precedent of unconstitutional takeover of power through military means.
- Insist on the strict implementation of the R-ARCSS as overthrowing will through the country into endless crisis or mayhem.
- Political leaders: Publicly recommit to constitutionalism, the peace process, and democratic transition.
- Security institutions under the RTGoNU, Peace Monitors, Guarantors should investigate these credible threats professionally and lawfully, and reassure the public through transparency.
STRATEGIC DIRECTION:
The only legitimate path forward and viable means to stability and everlasting peace in South Sudan is through the full implementation of the peace agreement (R-ARCSS) in letter and spirit that will lead the country to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections. Any deviation from this path would undermine national stability of South Sudan and international confidence.
CONCLUSION:
South Sudan stands at a decisive moment. The normalization of unconstitutional power transitions is a red line. The sovereignty of the people must be protected through lawful, democratic, and peaceful means, without exception that can be realised through the implementation of the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit.
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