Political tensions have been simmering in South Sudan for months, since President Salva Kiir sacked his Vice President, Riek Machar, and dissolved his cabinet in July. Violence escalated this Sunday, December 15 when reports surfaced of an attempted military coup against Kiir by Macher, an accusation that Macher denies. Fighting erupted on Sunday night between two factions of the Presidential guard — each side loyal to either Kiir or Macher — but has since escalated beyond Juba to Jonglei and Unity States in South Sudan. As the violence continues, what began as a political conflict is beginning to divide the country along ethnic lines — Kiir is of the majority Dinka tribe, while Macher is Nuer, and restive tensions between the two ethnicities have existed for some time.
More than 34,000 civilians are sheltering at UN compounds throughout the country, displaced from their homes by the violence and seeking the protection of UN forces. There have been unconfirmed reports of approximately 500 people killed. On December 19, armed groups from the Nuer tribe breached a UN compound in Jonglei State and killed three UN peacekeepers from India, purportedly in an attempt to reach Dinka civilians sheltering there. The main city of Bor, in Jonglei State, is now controlled by forces loyal to Macher. And Nuer civilians have accused Dinka forces of going door-to-door in Juba, executing Nuer civilians.
Most governments — including the US, Britain, Italy and Germany — have evacuated their citizens from the country. A statement from the White House on the evening of December 19 called generally for calm and negotiation, without committing the US to any particular action or support. A UN Security Council meeting on South Sudan is expected today, December 20. A delegation of African Union leaders, in Juba to spearhead negotiations, have reported productive talks with Kiir, who says he is ready for dialogue. Macher, however, has told the press that he is ready to negotiate Kiir’s departure, and that the military could depose him if he did not quit.