Court Orders Defence Ministry to Pay Over $1.4 Million to Two Shooting Victims Near Akol Koor’s Residence

By Jenifer James

A court in Juba has ordered South Sudan’s Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to pay more than $1.4 million in compensation to two victims of a November 2024 shooting, including Advocate Manawa Gabriel Makuach, who reportedly sustained a 60% disability.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Judge Ajok Tito in civil case No. 276 of 2026, which arose from a shooting incident near the residence of former National Security Director General Akol Koor that left the two plaintiffs injured.

The court ordered the ministry to compensate Advocate Manawa Gabriel and Madam Agum Andrea for their injuries and related damages.

According to the compensation breakdown provided, Advocate Manawa was awarded $274,850 for medical expenses, the value of his car and other damages, in addition to $800,000 for moral and mental suffering.

Madam Agum was awarded $81,170 for medical expenses, the value of her car and other damages, plus $300,000 for moral and mental suffering.

Following the ruling, the plaintiffs’ representative, Advocate Angelo Thon Pal, thanked the judiciary for its commitment to delivering justice.

“I want to thank the judiciary of the Republic of South Sudan for its dedication to serving justice to citizens, regardless of their social, political, or religious backgrounds,” he said.

Madam Agum welcomed the ruling but urged the Ministry of Defence to implement the compensation order, saying the victims had waited a long time without receiving any payment.

“I am appealing to the Ministry of Defence to pay the compensation, as it was supposed to be settled two weeks after the incident, but we have received nothing until now,” she said.

Advocate Manawa recounted the traumatic incident, saying he and his companion were caught in crossfire while travelling home and had not expected to become victims of the shooting.

“We were just traveling home. We had no idea something like this would happen. During the crossfire, we became victims, which led to my disability,” he explained.

Manawa said he had undergone three operations in Juba and Egypt but still required four additional surgeries. He expressed concern that even further treatment might not restore his physical appearance to what it was before the incident.

He also revealed that a committee had been established following a presidential order to investigate the incident and address compensation for the victims.

“We tried to meet with the committee, but they kept telling us that they had submitted their report. As of today, we have not received any feedback from them, so we decided to go to court,” he said.

While acknowledging that the court ruling could not reverse the physical injuries he sustained, Manawa said it represented an important step towards securing recognition of the victims’ rights.

“I know the ruling will not restore my physical condition to what it was before, but I thank the judiciary for helping us obtain our rights,” he concluded.

The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has yet to comment on the ruling or indicate whether it will comply with the court’s decision or appeal the judgment.