The warning was delivered in an official statement signed by Maj. Gen. Gabriel Goor Mawar, Chief of the Central Security Division, and dated April 10, 2025. It cited a rise in unauthorized public gatherings as a potential threat to national security.
“Some hotel managers have been collaborating with individuals posing as authorized officers to verbally greenlight events without clearance from our office,” the statement read.
“This undermines the NSS’s oversight role and compromises public safety.”
Hotel operators have now been directed to immediately halt any coordination with unapproved security personnel and instead seek direct approval from the Central Security Division for any planned events or public functions.
“Your genuine cooperation with this office will facilitate resolving security issues,” Maj. Gen. Goor added, urging strict compliance to avoid further complications.
Although the NSS Act of 2014 and its 2024 amendments do not explicitly regulate public gatherings, the agency retains broad discretionary powers that effectively influence how such events are conducted across the country. The 2024 amendment bill notably expanded NSS authority, triggering concerns from civil society organizations about increasing constraints on public freedoms.
While the directive did not cite specific events or individuals, it signals heightened security vigilance as South Sudan continues to grapple with political instability and regional unrest. Hotel managers were reminded that non-compliance could lead to legal consequences under the NSS’s expansive legal framework, although no detailed enforcement measures were specified.
The message concluded with Maj. Gen. Goor’s “highly esteemed regards,” but its tone underscored the seriousness of the issue and the NSS’s intent to tighten control over public gatherings perceived as potential security risks.
