10 Nov 2017 | 11:00 AM UTC
South Sudan: Security situation likely to remain tense in Juba /update 2
Tensions likely to remain high in Juba despite Malong’s release November 9; four-day curfew imposed for US Embassy personnel Nov. 9-13
Event
Tensions surrounding the arrest of former army chief Paul Malong are high in the country, particularly in the capital Juba. Malong has been under house arrest since May 2017; however, on November 3, President Salva Kiir ordered the disarming of Malong’s personal body guards and stationed troops outside his house. These measures were lifted on November 9, but tensions will likely remain high in the city regardless. Clashes between rival security forces are possible. For this reason, the US Embassy in South Sudan has implemented a temporary curfew for embassy personnel in Juba, in place November 9-13 from 19:00 to 06:30 (local time).
Context
This incident is the latest in a string of political, interethnic, and intercommunal tensions and violence in South Sudan, exacerbated by border and oil revenue disputes with neighboring Sudan. Following the 2011 signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that gave the country its independence from Sudan, the north-south conflict has given way to a pattern of internal violence. Since December 2013, the country has experienced an intermittent civil war between the government of President Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on one side, and rebel forces in support of former Vice President Riek Machar and his Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) on the other. This is despite international support for state-building and peace-keeping - including a 12,000-troop-strong UN mission (UNMISS) deployed since 2011. The number of South Sudanese citizens displaced by the conflict currently stands at some 3.5 million.
Advice
Individuals in Juba are advised to remain vigilant and to follow all instructions issued by local authorities.
Due to this and other security concerns, many Western governments advise against nonessential travel to South Sudan. Certain regions should be particularly avoided, including the states of Unity and Upper Nile, the north of Warrap state, parts of Eastern and Central Equatoria states, and areas along the border with the Central African Republic, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If travel is necessary, ensure that proper security protocols are in place.
