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South Sudan Coup Attempt: Disgruntled Soldiers and Politicians Tried To Overthrow Government, Official Says

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Sudanese anti-government protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Khartoum, Sudan, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

huffingtonpost.com - AP - by CHARLTON DOKI and RODNEY MUHUMUZA - December 16, 2013

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) -- South Sudan's president on Monday ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital after soldiers loyal to the former deputy attempted to seize power by force, leading to clashes between military factions that highlight the growing instability of the world's youngest nation.

Flanked by government officials, President Salva Kiir --who put on fatigues with an army general's epaulets inside of his usual gentleman's suit -- said Monday in a televised address to the nation that the military had foiled a coup orchestrated by "a group of soldiers allied with the former vice president." The soldiers had attacked the South Sudanese military headquarters near Juba University late Sunday, sparking sporadic bursts of gunfire that continued Monday, he said.

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South Sudanese refugees line up for water at a United Nations compound in Juba on Saturday.

cnn.com - By Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Elise Labott, and Barbara Starr - December 22, 2013

(CNN) -- All Americans who presented themselves at the United Nations camp in Bor, South Sudan, were evacuated safely Sunday amid deadly violence in the country, the State Department said. A State Department official said about 15 Americans were flown out.

U.S. personnel are working to confirm that no other U.S. citizens remain in Bor in need of evacuation, a State Department official said.

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nytimes.com - by MICHAEL R. GORDON - December 21, 2013

WASHINGTON — Three United States aircraft flying into a heavily contested region of South Sudan to evacuate American citizens were attacked on Saturday morning and forced to turn back without completing the mission, American officials said. Four service members were wounded, one seriously.

The United States had been evacuating Americans from the country, where a political crisis exploded in violence last week, for several days, but the mission on Saturday was the first into rebel-controlled territory.

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December 17, 2013

Travel Warning
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Republic of South Sudan

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to the Republic of South Sudan and recommends that U.S. citizens currently in South Sudan depart immediately. U.S. citizens who choose to stay in South Sudan despite this warning should review their personal security situation and seriously reconsider their plans to remain. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued on October 22, 2013, to reflect the current lack of security and risk of remaining in South Sudan.

On December 17, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from South Sudan because of ongoing political and social unrest. The Embassy is also suspending normal operations until further notice and cannot provide routine consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan.

U.S. citizens who choose to remain in South Sudan and seek routine consular services should contact the U.S. embassies in Uganda, Ethiopia, or Kenya. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should contact the U.S. Embassy by phone at 211-955-456-050 or by email at ***@***.***.

U.S. citizens can obtain global updates from the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel WarningsTravel Alerts, and Country Specific Information. U.S. citizens in South Sudan can obtain the latest security information by contacting the U.S. Department of State at ***@***.***. Families and friends of U.S. citizens in South Sudan can email ***@***.*** with as much of the following information as possible about U.S. citizens in South Sudan: name, age or date of birth, passport number, phone number(s) or e-mail address(es), current location and status in South Sudan.

Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

If you are going to live in or travel to South Sudan despite this Travel Warning, the Embassy strongly urges you to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). By enrolling in STEP, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Enrolling in STEP will also make it easier for us to contact you in the event of an emergency. You should remember to keep all of your information in STEP up to date; it is particularly important when you enroll or update your information to include a current phone number and e-mail address

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_6234.html

Twitter - U.S. Mission in Juba - @USMissionJuba
Official (Twitter) page for U.S. Embassy in South Sudan
https://twitter.com/USMissionJuba

Flickr Photostream - U.S. Mission in Juba - U.S. Embassy South Sudan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usmissionjuba

Facebook - U.S. Embassy Juba, South Sudan
https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassySouthSudan

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - South Sudan
http://www.unocha.org/south-sudan

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