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2013 South Sudanese coup d'état attempt
Date 14-15 December 2013 Location  South Sudan Result Failed coup d'état
Belligerents
Government of South Sudan Armed Forces of South Sudan (At least ethnic Dinkas)	Armed Forces of South Sudan (Ethnic Nuers)
Commanders and leaders
President Salva Kiir	Riek Machar

On 14 December 2013, a faction of the army attempted a coup d'état in South Sudan. By the next day the attempt had been put down.

Background

Following the independence of South Sudan, Riek Machar was vice president of the only party and made the vice president of the country. In July 2013, he, along with the entire cabinet, was dismissed from office by President Salva Kiir. However, he said that Kiir's move was a step towards dictatorship and that he would challenge Kiir for the presidency. He added that if the country is to be united it cannot tolerate "one man's rule." At the same time, the U.S. and the E.U. feared political upheavel. Further, both leaders, while being members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, are members of different tribes. Kiir is an ethnic Dinka, while Machar is an ethnic Nuer.

Similarly, since independence, tribal factionalism has routinely occurred, especially in Jonglei.

Coup d'etat attempt

The South Sudanese Sudan Tribune reported clashes breaking out late on 14 December between members of the presidential guard. The military headquarters near Juba University were attacked with fighting continuing throughout the night. The next day heavy gunfire occurred in South Sudan's capital, Juba, as the rival factions clashed and heavily-armed soldiers were reportedly on the streets of Juba. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan also reported the sound of mortar and heavy machine-gun fire, while it claimed hundreds of civilians sought refuge inside its facilities Military spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer said that some military installations had been attacked from armed soldiers but that "the army is in full control of Juba." He added that an investigation was under way and that though the situation was tense it was also unlikely to deteriorate.

Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that soldiers at the army base attempted to raid a weapons store but were repulsed. He added that an unnamed politicians had also been arrested, but could not confirm if Machar was one of them. He also said that those that were a part of the coup were "disgruntled" soldiers and politicians led by Machar.

Reactions

United Nations Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon's Special Representative for South Sudan Hilde Johnson issued a statement that read the UN mission in the country was "deeply concerned" about the fighting and that "as the Special Representative of the Secretary General I urge all parties in the fighting to cease hostilities immediately and exercise restraint. I have been in touch regularly with the key leaders, including at the highest levels to call for calm."

The U.S. embassy in the country reported that while it was aware of "security incidents and sporadic gunfire in multiple locations" it could not "that gunfire and insecurity have fully ceased. The embassy recommends that all U.S. citizens exercise extra caution at all times. The U.S. Embassy will continue to closely monitor the security environment in South Sudan, with particular attention to Juba city and its immediate surroundings, and will advise US citizens further if the security situation changes."

References

1. http://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2013/07/20137287019670555.html
2. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/12/heavy-gunfire-heard-south-sudan-capital-201312167240288669.html
3. ^ Cite error: The named reference aljaz2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

• Current events
• Use dmy dates from April 2012
• 2010s coups d'état and coup attempts
• Conflicts in 2013
• 2013 in South Sudan