Renegade vice-president denies South Sudan coup after fighting claims 400 lives

The Telegraph ^ | 11:57AM GMT 18 Dec 2013 | David Blair

[Pan_Yan]

South Sudan’s fugitive vice-president has denied mounting a coup after three days of fighting in the capital of the world’s newest countryclaimed at least 400 lives.

Riek Machar, who was formally sacked as vice-president in July, said the clashes were caused by a “misunderstanding” and no attempt had been made to overthrow President Salva Kiir.

The clashes began on Sunday night when military bases in the capital, Juba, were attacked. On Monday, Mr Kiir appeared in military uniform and said that his government had foiled a coup. The president has been locked in a power struggle with Mr Machar, reflecting tensions between their respective Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups.

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Fighting has since spread beyond the capital, raising fears that South Sudan, which achieved independence in 2011 after five decades of struggle, could suffer a renewed civil war.

[Pan_Yan]

Sigh. Africa just keeps being Africa. I hope South Sudan can pull themselves together. They won independence from an Islamic dictatorship, started building close ties with Israel and are involved in a major pipeline project that could make them very wealthy without having to go through Sudan to sell their oil. Their president still wears the cowboy hat George W. Bush gave him.