South Sudanese social media personality Akuac Wol is recovering after she was shot in the left buttock on Monday in Juba during what her family describes as a confrontation with National Security Service (NSS) agents who were attempting to arrest her. The attack has heightened concerns over an intensifying crackdown on political online voices in the country.
Wol, known for her bold livestreams and commentary on South Sudan’s political landscape, was hit by several bullets that also struck her thigh. The shooting occurred as tensions continue to rise between supporters of former vice president Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and loyalists of President Salva Kiir — a rivalry that has spilled heavily into social media platforms.
According to her sister, the family believes the attack was directly linked to ongoing digital and political hostilities. NSS personnel had reportedly been monitoring and attempting to detain Akuac over her online activities, making her one of several political content creators targeted in recent weeks as authorities tighten control over outspoken voices.
After receiving emergency treatment at a Juba hospital, Akuac Wol was flown to Kenya, where she is expected to undergo surgery in Nairobi to remove a bullet lodged deep in her left gluteal area. Her condition is described as stable but requiring specialized medical attention.
The incident comes at a time when South Sudan is experiencing a surge in politically charged online content, misinformation, and heated exchanges between rival camps. Digital rights observers warn that the government’s increased surveillance and arrests of online activists risk fueling further instability and silencing dissent ahead of the country’s fragile political transition.
Akuac Wol’s shooting has already sparked widespread reactions among South Sudanese communities at home and abroad, with many expressing fear that the state’s confrontation with political social media influencers is escalating into violent repression.
