US suspends embassy operations in Juba, calls for peaceful and democratic dialogue
December 17, 2013 (JUBA) – The United States State Department announced on Tuesday that it has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in South Sudan in the wake of the fighting that broke out in Juba that was labeled as a coup attempt by president Salva Kiir.
According to the bulletin, the US embassy is also suspending normal operations and US citizens have been urged to “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,” the State Department said in the warning.
US media quoted White House spokesman Jay Carney as saying that their assessment is that “Circumstances there have gotten worse and we remain deeply concern about developments in South Sudan”.
Carney called on Juba to open critical points of entry and exit, including the airport, as for Washington to evacuate some of its personnel and citizens from the country.
He said that the Obama administration is closely monitoring the situation and urges all parties in South Sudan to hammer out their differences “peacefully and democratically.”
(ST)