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Americans evacuated from South Sudan battleground
ALJAZEERA | 2013-12-23 11:02
Kenyan nationals who were evacuated from Juba, South Sudan, by the Kenyan Air Force arrive Dec. 22 at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
American citizens were safely evacuated from a war-torn South Sudan city on Sunday, one day after four U.S. troops were injured when their aircraft drew fire during a failed airlift attempt,the State Department said.
An unspecified number of Americans and citizens from other “partner nations” were flown Sunday from Bor, the scene of intense fighting for the past week, to the capital of Juba on United Nations and U.S. civilian helicopters, department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement.
“The United States and the United Nations, which has the lead for securing Bor airport in South Sudan, took steps to ensure fighting factions were aware these flights were a humanitarian mission,” the statement said. The flights took place in consultation with the embattled South Sudanese government.
About 380 Americans and 300 citizens of other nations have been evacuated in recent days to Nairobi and other locations on four chartered flights and five military aircraft, Psaki said. An unknown number of people have left on their own and an unknown number remain in Bor and surrounding rural areas.
“The U.S. government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of United States citizens in South Sudan,” the statement said. “We are working with our allies around the world to connect with and evacuate U.S. citizens as quickly and safely as possible.”
For security reasons, specific plans were not being released, Psaki said.
“We strongly recommend U.S. citizens in South Sudan depart immediately,” the statement said.
Also Sunday, South Sudan’s central government lost control of the capital of a key oil-producing state, the military said, as renegade forces loyal to a former deputy president seized more territory in fighting that has raised fears of full-blown civil war in the world’s newest country.
Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state, is now controlled by a military commander loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, said Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese military spokesman.
A day earlier, the Pentagon said three aircraft were attacked by small-arms fire from the ground as they were approaching the town of Bor. All three aircraft sustained damage in the attack.
The aircraft, tilt-rotor Ospreys, were able to divert to Entebbe, Uganda, where the wounded American servicemembers were transferred to Air Force C-17 planes and flown to Nairobi, Kenya, for treatment. The four were in stable condition, the military said. The U.S. forces were part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
South Sudanese officials blamed the attack against the American aircraft on rebels. The U.S. military identified the ground fire as coming from “unknown forces.”
The country has been racked by violence for a week after an attempted coup triggered fighting between rival ethnic groups. The violence has killed hundreds and has world leaders worried that a full-blown civil war could ignite in South Sudan. Earlier this week, President Obama dispatched U.S. troops to help protect the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Juba.
US military aircraft hit in South Sudan
Gunfire hit three US military aircraft responding to the outbreak in violence in South Sudan, wounding four US service members and heavily damaging at least one of the aircraft, officials said.
South Sudan blamed the attack on renegade troops in control of the breakaway region.
The aircraft were heading to Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei and scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the last week.
A statement released by the US Africa Command said "all four service members were treated and are in stable condition."
After the aircraft took incoming fire, they turned around and headed to Kampala, Uganda, officials said. From there the service members were flown on to Nairobi, Kenya for medical treatment, the officials told the Associated Press news agency.
Both officials spoke under the condition of anonymity.
The aircraft was participating in a mission to evacuate American citizens in Bor, according to a statement by the Pentagon.
A South Sudan official said violence against civilians there has resulted in bodies "sprinkled all over town."
A second official said the Americans did not tell the top commander in Bor, General Peter Gadet - who defected from the South Sudan military this week - that they were coming in, which may have led to the attack.
Government lost Bor
South Sudan's military spokesman, Colonel Philip Aguer, said that government troops are not in control of Bor, so the attack on the US aircraft has to be blamed on renegade soldiers, he said.
"Bor is under the control of the forces of Riek Machar,'' Aguer said.
South Sudan President Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, said this week that an attempted coup triggered the violence now pulsing through South Sudan.
He blamed the former vice president, Machar, an ethnic Nuer.
But officials have since said a fight between Dinka and Nuer members of the presidential guard triggered the initial violence late Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Kenya's presidential spokesman said President Kenyatta has ordered the Kenya Defence Force to immediately begin the evacuation of 1,600 Kenyan civilians trapped in South Sudan.
“The United States and the United Nations, which has the lead for securing Bor airport in South Sudan, took steps to ensure fighting factions were aware these flights were a humanitarian mission,” the statement said. The flights took place in consultation with the embattled South Sudanese government.
About 380 Americans and 300 citizens of other nations have been evacuated in recent days to Nairobi and other locations on four chartered flights and five military aircraft, Psaki said. An unknown number of people have left on their own and an unknown number remain in Bor and surrounding rural areas.
“The U.S. government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of United States citizens in South Sudan,” the statement said. “We are working with our allies around the world to connect with and evacuate U.S. citizens as quickly and safely as possible.”
For security reasons, specific plans were not being released, Psaki said.
“We strongly recommend U.S. citizens in South Sudan depart immediately,” the statement said.
Also Sunday, South Sudan’s central government lost control of the capital of a key oil-producing state, the military said, as renegade forces loyal to a former deputy president seized more territory in fighting that has raised fears of full-blown civil war in the world’s newest country.
Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state, is now controlled by a military commander loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, said Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese military spokesman.
A day earlier, the Pentagon said three aircraft were attacked by small-arms fire from the ground as they were approaching the town of Bor. All three aircraft sustained damage in the attack.
The aircraft, tilt-rotor Ospreys, were able to divert to Entebbe, Uganda, where the wounded American servicemembers were transferred to Air Force C-17 planes and flown to Nairobi, Kenya, for treatment. The four were in stable condition, the military said. The U.S. forces were part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
South Sudanese officials blamed the attack against the American aircraft on rebels. The U.S. military identified the ground fire as coming from “unknown forces.”
The country has been racked by violence for a week after an attempted coup triggered fighting between rival ethnic groups. The violence has killed hundreds and has world leaders worried that a full-blown civil war could ignite in South Sudan. Earlier this week, President Obama dispatched U.S. troops to help protect the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Juba.
US military aircraft hit in South Sudan
Gunfire hit three US military aircraft responding to the outbreak in violence in South Sudan, wounding four US service members and heavily damaging at least one of the aircraft, officials said.
South Sudan blamed the attack on renegade troops in control of the breakaway region.
The aircraft were heading to Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei and scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the last week.
A statement released by the US Africa Command said "all four service members were treated and are in stable condition."
After the aircraft took incoming fire, they turned around and headed to Kampala, Uganda, officials said. From there the service members were flown on to Nairobi, Kenya for medical treatment, the officials told the Associated Press news agency.
Both officials spoke under the condition of anonymity.
The aircraft was participating in a mission to evacuate American citizens in Bor, according to a statement by the Pentagon.
A South Sudan official said violence against civilians there has resulted in bodies "sprinkled all over town."
A second official said the Americans did not tell the top commander in Bor, General Peter Gadet - who defected from the South Sudan military this week - that they were coming in, which may have led to the attack.
Government lost Bor
South Sudan's military spokesman, Colonel Philip Aguer, said that government troops are not in control of Bor, so the attack on the US aircraft has to be blamed on renegade soldiers, he said.
"Bor is under the control of the forces of Riek Machar,'' Aguer said.
South Sudan President Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, said this week that an attempted coup triggered the violence now pulsing through South Sudan.
He blamed the former vice president, Machar, an ethnic Nuer.
But officials have since said a fight between Dinka and Nuer members of the presidential guard triggered the initial violence late Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Kenya's presidential spokesman said President Kenyatta has ordered the Kenya Defence Force to immediately begin the evacuation of 1,600 Kenyan civilians trapped in South Sudan.
He said many Kenyans are in Bor.
The country has already started dispatching military flights with aid supplies to Juba.
It was not clear how many soldiers will be sent to carry out the evacuation effort.
The escalating violence has killed hundreds and has world leaders worried that a full-blown civil war could ignite in South Sudan.
