President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, pictured in this UN file photo, attributes yesterday's attempted coup and resulting violence to his fired former vice president, Riek Machar. (UPI/UN/Isaac Billy)
Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Gunfire continued in Juba, South Sudan Monday, following a failed coup attempt by the former vice president, prompting an ordered evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Juba.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit reported an attack against an army base by members loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. The military quelled the attack and the president imposed a curfew. Despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew, at 10 p.m. local time, gunfire was reported in the Tomping neighborhood.
Most phone networks are down, prompting the U.S. Embassy in Juba to use Twitter to provide updates on the situation and tweet guidance to American citizens. The embassy announced it is on ordered departure following the recent violence.
The embassy issued the following press statement Monday, urging "peaceful resolution to violence."
The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan is deeply concerned at the recent outbreak of armed violence in Juba. We join the UN Special Representative's request for all parties to “cease hostilities immediately and exercise restraint.” Throughout the night and this morning U.S. Embassy officials have spoken with a range of government officials, diplomatic counterparts, and concerned parties in order to urge calm, restraint, and a settling of differences through a peaceful political means rather than through violence. We have released two Warden Messages to U.S. citizens regarding the events on the ground, and urge all citizens to remain indoors at this time.The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor the events on the ground and provide updates as they become available.
The Government of South Sudan announced the arrest of ten individuals for involvement in the attempted coup.
[Washington Post]
[U.S. Embassy Juba]
[Government of South Sudan]
