11/06/2026
GEN. AYOR AKUOCH ANOK
FORMER DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND TRAINING, NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
General Ayor Akuoch Anok served as Head of Close Protection to Dr. John Garang during the liberation struggle. His intelligence and operational support contributed significantly to the liberation of South Sudan as a nation. He held that role for many years until 2004, when differences arose with opportunistic groups during the peace process. Those groups sought to assume security responsibilities as the struggle was concluding. Dr. Garang made efforts to bring him back, but General Ayor remained away from the role.
Following the death of Dr. John Garang, in 2005, President Salva Kiir Mayardit recognized General Ayor’s experience and summoned him to Juba. President Kiir told him, “Ayor, Garang has died, and we will never abandon his path. You must choose between three options: the Presidential Protection Unit (Tiger Division), the Commando Division, or the National Security team being deployed to Khartoum.” General Ayor chose to join the National Security team and was among the Southern Sudan security personnel stationed in Khartoum during the interim period of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
While in Khartoum, he was recognized by General Salah Gosh, Director of Sudan’s National Security. General Gosh asked, “Are you the Ayor Akuoch Anok who protected Dr. John Garang during the SPLA movement?” General Ayor replied, “Yes.” General Gosh then said, “You are the wisest security personnel I have ever encountered. Congratulations, comrade.”
After South Sudan’s independence in 2011, he was appointed Director of Operations and Training for the National Security Service. He served in that position for 8 years. He was known for leading from the front — he did not command operations by phone but went directly to the scene with his weapon.
During the 2013/2014 conflict in South Sudan, General Ayor served the government with full commitment and successful
