US urges citizens to leave troubled South Sudan

South Sudanese troops loyal to President Salva Kiir at Bor airport after they re-captured it from rebel forces on December 25, 2013. PHOTO | FILE  AFP

 

Reports from South Sudan indicate that former vice president Riek Machar has announced that he will only dialogue with President Salva Kiir when the latter steps down. Machar has also reportedly told soldiers in South Sudan to topple Kiir. This is taking place with news that soldiers allegedly loyal to Machar have apparently taken control of a town in Jonglei State. Meanwhile Kenyans have started arriving in the country with a Kenya Airways flight making its first trip since the Sunday eruption of violence.

In Summary

• Thousands of people are feared to have been killed in almost three weeks of fighting.
• The United States has already flown several evacuation flights to South Sudan for its citizens.
• One such mission came under fire over the rebel-held town of Bor, wounding four US servicemen.
• Several other nations including Britain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia have also sent emergency flights to evacuate their citizens.

By MACHEL AMOS
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By AFP
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JUBA, Friday

The US embassy in South Sudan has ordered a further pull-out of staff and organised an new evacuation flight due to the worsening conflict in the young nation.

"The Department of State ordered a further drawdown of US embassy personnel from Juba because of the deteriorating security situation," the embassy said in a statement. "We continue to urge US citizens in South Sudan to depart the country."

Beginning Saturday, the U.S. embassy will no longer able to provide any consular services to U.S. citizens in the Republic of South Sudan, the statement added. “During a crisis, our priority is assisting U.S. citizens.”

FOUR US SERVICEMEN WOUNDED

Thousands of people are feared to have been killed in almost three weeks of fighting, pitting army units loyal to President Salva Kiir against a loose alliance of ethnic militia forces and mutinous army commanders nominally headed by ex-vice president Riek Machar.

The United States has already flown several evacuation flights to South Sudan for its citizens. One such mission came under fire over the rebel-held town of Bor, wounding four US servicemen.

(READ: S.Sudan troops under attack by rebels in Bor)

"Private US citizens will need to arrange their own transport to the airport and should consider personal safety of that travel in doing so," the statement said.

"US citizens who are not able to take advantage of the evacuation flight should review their personal security situation and strongly consider taking advantage of any existing commercial flights."

Several other nations including Britain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia have also sent emergency flights to evacuate their citizens.

FRESH FIGHTING

Fresh fighting broke out in South Sudan on Friday between the military and the rebel forces over the control of Jonglei State capital, Bor.

According to sources close to the military base, there was heavy artillery fire around Panpandiar, 20km from Bor town.

Military spokesman Philip Aguer said the military was advancing towards the capital in a bid to seize the town from a rebel group allied to former Vice President Riek Machar.

“There is fighting. We are advancing now but the situation is not yet clear,” Col Aguer told Nation.co.ke.

The latest battle over Bor came as government and rebel delegates meet under Inter Governmental Authority on Development mediation to resolve the conflict.