A commandant who refuses to fade
Just days earlier, the former Inspector General of Police, Gen. Abraham Manyuat Peter, had transferred Akot to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State as Police Commissioner, part of a sweeping reshuffle involving 13 senior officers. But before the public could even absorb the news, Akot resurfaced at his old station — defiant, unshaken, and embraced by a circle of officers who had long adjusted to his fiery leadership style.
Facing the traffic force on Monday, he delivered a declaration that startled many: he claimed he built the department from the ground up with no support.
“When I started this work, was there anyone who came or asked?” he said.
He dismissed accusations that he had flooded the traffic force with recruits from his Awan community in Warrap State — turning to his officers and asking if they were all from Awan. The hall echoed with a unified “No.”
Akot went further, accusing the entire security leadership of serving personal interests rather than the nation.
“We have forgotten the 10 Commandments here in South Sudan; everyone is working for their stomach,” he declared.
He described recent disruptions at the Traffic Police Directorate as a “coup,” alleging that officers were detained and robbed of personal belongings during the takeover attempt. And he rejected widely circulated accusations of sexually exploiting female officers, calling the allegations “lies meant to damage my image.”
A survivor of storms — and a beneficiary of power shifts
Akot has survived reshuffles, negative press, and political battles that would have ended the careers of most public officials. Each controversy only seems to reinforce the perception that he is uniquely insulated.
This week, in a dramatic twist, President Salva Kiir dismissed Inspector General Manyuat — just days after the reshuffle that relocated Akot. That timing has only strengthened public suspicion that Akot is protected at levels most officers can only imagine.
A record of confrontation
Akot’s confrontational reputation is hardly new. In October 2023, he sparked national outrage by publicly labelling the National Legislature “illegitimate and unregistered” during a standoff over proposed reforms to vehicle logbook renewals. Parliament summoned him, but he refused to appear, accusing lawmakers of interfering with police work.
So when reports emerged last week that he had rejected his transfer to Aweil, many South Sudanese reacted with little surprise.
Akot denied the allegations, insisting he has never defied an order from the Inspector General. But his swift return to his old desk has left many wondering whether he is simply too entrenched — or too powerful — to be reassigned.
Business ownership and rumoured presidential connection
John Akot owns John Akot Insurance Company, located in Buluk. For years, rumours have also circulated that President Kiir allegedly spent part of his younger life in the home of Akot’s family — a claim often repeated by critics who believe it explains the traffic chief’s seemingly untouchable status. Though unverified, the rumour plays into a broader public narrative that Akot enjoys political protection at the highest level.
Civil society pushes back
The growing public frustration has fueled louder calls from activists. PCCA member Wani Michael wrote to President Kiir, accusing Akot of disrespecting Parliament and ignoring the authority of the Inspector General.
“On many occasions, he indicated that the only person who can fire him is you, Mr President,” Wani wrote.
He lamented what he called Akot’s lack of achievements, describing the Traffic Police Department under his leadership as riddled with corruption and heavy-handed enforcement.
“He presides over a department full of individuals who terrorise motorists,” Wani stated. “He has failed to professionalise the force, curb massive looting, or end unauthorised fines and tariffs.”
Civil society figure Edmund Yakani, speaking on the Around South Sudan Podcast, urged the Police leadership to reform the directorate and address misconduct that has damaged the institution’s public image.
Abuses on the road
To many South Sudanese motorists, the controversy surrounding Akot is not just political — it is personal. Drivers routinely report extortion, intimidation, and harassment by traffic officers.
Common complaints include officers seizing motorcycle keys until payments are made, demands for unauthorised “fees”, blockading roads to force fines, and physical altercations with motorists.
These practices have fostered a widespread belief that the Traffic Police Department operates more like a predatory syndicate than a public service agency.
A man both feared and embedded
Whether driven by loyalty networks, political protection, or sheer force of personality, one reality remains: Kon John Akot has become one of the most unmovable figures in South Sudan’s policing system. He resurfaces from every conflict stronger, louder, and more determined — a man whose authority seems to deepen each time he is challenged.
