At approximately 15 Dec at 2330 hrs reports emerged of sustained and heavy gunfire originating from the former Joint Integrated Unit/GHQ building near Nyakuron Cultural Centre. Further reports of fighting were received throughout Juba including at Bilpam SPLA Headquarters and barracks, Presidential Guard Headquarters, Jebel Market and North Nyakuron in the vicinity of UN House, and the barracks on the Bor road.
Fighting continued until approximately 0256 hrs on 16 December when a temporary lull in the fighting ensued. It resumed in the Nyakuran area on 16 Dec at 0630 hrs and Bilpam at approximately 0700 hrs; this has included the use of heavy machine guns and mortars.
Tank movements are involved in multiple areas of the city as well on both sides of Juba Bridge, which is the only way to cross the river Nile. Approximately 300 civilians have sought refuge in UN House in Jebel. Another 500-600 civilians have come into the UN camp in Tomping near the airport.
Many civilians are also crossing the only bridge over the Nile and moving into the neighbourhood of Gumbo.
There are also reports of the use of helicopters.
There are also reports of fighting in Pibor and Gumuruk in Jonglei State but it is not confirmed if this alleged fighting is between the SPLA and rebels led by David Yau Yau or whether it is SPLA versus SPLA, which is the current situation in Juba.
Military sources say the clashes started between the Tiger division special forces (predominantly Nuer) and elements of the Presidential Guards (recently turned predominantly Dinka). The Nuer side was suspicious in the deployments of the other group, which turned arguments into deadly clashes.
It’s reported that the group of predominantly Nuer forced the other group, predominantly Dinka, out of the HQ.
The Presidential Guard unit in question has been controversial, as it is mainly comprised of handpicked individuals from President Kiir’s home area. The move to handpick the Presidential guard unit and deploy them, originally, to a place near Luri Bridge outside Juba angered the SPLA Chief of Staff James Hoth Mai who felt the President was meddling in Army affairs by doing his own deployment against the wishes of the Chief of Staff. Chief of Staff Hoth Mai is a Nuer.
Hot Mai had been out of the country in Australia but returned just last night. The situation in general is still fluid and its unclear whether this is an actual attempt at a coup or whether it is fighting within the army along ethnic and political lines.
Reports of Riak Machar taking refuge inside the U.S Embassy are NOT TRUE. Reports of President Kiir fleeing to Uganda are not confirmed but would be seen as highly unlikely.Theses developments are directly linked to the collapse of talks between President Kiir and former VP Machar over internal SPLM party issues.
Currently, fighting appears to have died down, although it is not yet all over. The latest info suggests that it may be migrating toward Gudele. There is also a report that elements of the SPLA have commandeered the entire diesel supply from at least one, privately owned, fuel station.
The airport is closed and the entire city is on lockdown.
No vehicle movement is allowed.