South Sudan: Gunfire continues in capital
Africa & World Politics, Headlines Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
As many as 13,000 people have fled to two UN compounds in Juba| credits: Reuters
Fresh gunfire has erupted overnight in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, a day after the government said it had quashed an attempted coup.
There are reports of heavy weapons being fired near a military headquarters just outside Juba.
Several thousand people have taken refuge at two United Nations compounds.
On Monday, President Salva Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his dismissed former deputy Riek Machar for the violence, but said the government was in control.
He said the violence first broke out on Sunday night after unidentified uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the ruling party, former rebel force the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
A night time curfew is now in place and at least four former ministers have reportedly been arrested after the alleged coup. Machar’s whereabouts are unclear.
President Kiir sacked Machar, along with his whole cabinet, in July. The sackings are believed to have followed a power struggle.
Machar, who has said he plans to contest the presidential elections in 2015, now leads a dissident faction within the SPLM.
-Punch
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on Dec 17 2013. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Headlines.
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