Fighting over four days in South Sudan's capital, Juba, following what the government has termed a "failed coup attempt," has left dozens dead and many more injured, forcing thousands of others to flee their homes, say officials. Close to 20,000 people have sought refuge at the two UN compounds in Juba over the past three days, up from a previous estimate of 10,000, according to Toby Lanzer, the UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Resident and Humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan.  The fighting erupted on Dec. 15, when soldiers loyal to former vice president Riek Machar allegedly attacked the Al Giada army headquarters on the outskirts of Juba, President Salva Kiir told the nation in an address on Dec. 16. 

The violence quickly spread across Juba, whose streets were teeming with security forces. On Dec. 17, heavy shooting erupted near Machar's house in Juba, but it is still unclear whether he has been arrested or if he is even in Juba. Machar has denied involvement in the alleged coup, according to a Dec. 18 article in the Sudan Tribune. "There was no coup. What took place in Juba was a misunderstanding between presidential guards within their division. It was not a coup attempt. I have no connection with or knowledge of any coup attempt," he said, adding that he and his arrested colleagues were being victimized for no reason. Several South Sudanese officials have been arrested in connection with the apparent coup attempt. 

Casualties of the violence 
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the clashes have left hundreds in urgent need of medical care. "Thousands of civilians, including women and children, have fled their homes in search of safety, taking very little with them. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing the city's two major hospitals with support so that they can cope with the heavy influx of patients," stated ICRC on Dec. 17. 

"More than 300 people have been admitted to [the] Juba Teaching Hospital and [the] Juba Military Hospital over the past two days. The ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross have delivered to the hospitals enough wound-dressing materials and other urgently needed medical supplies to treat up to 500 people."

The ICRC spokesperson, Cynthia Lee, would not confirm to IRIN whether they are seeing gunshot-related wounds, but said all injuries at both hospitals are related to the fighting. She said the staff at Juba Teaching Hospital has already performed more than 70 emergency surgeries. At least 26 patients have died at the hospital, and there are fears about those unable to reach the facility for treatment. 

Forced to flee 
Women and children have set up camp under the scattered trees of Juba's Episcopal Cathedral compound. Sebit Albino said fighting broke out in her home area late on the night of 15 December. She fled at daybreak with 18 family members, running most of the 10 kilometers to the cathedral, where they spent the night of Dec. 16. "It is difficult because the cold is disturbing us here and we left our luggage. Even getting something to eat is very difficult," said Albino. 

Security officials said that they are trying to contain pockets of fighting across the city and allow people to return to their homes.

Fear of ethnic violence 
The events of Dec. 15 may have been the culmination of growing tension within the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). In July, Kiir sacked Machar and other members of his cabinet. Since his dismissal from office, Machar has repeatedly said that he plans to challenge Kiir for the leadership of the SPLM. Alongside other high-profile SPLM members, he accused Kiir earlier in December of "dictatorial tendencies" in the running of SPLM. 

Jok Madut Jok, head of the Sudd Institute, a local think tank, said that while he believes the fighting was initially over political loyalty, "there is definitely a worry that if the situation continues as it is, that it might actually become tribal if it is prolonged." The fighting may have an ethnic dimension, with some noting tensions between the Dinka and Nuer peoples. Kiir belongs to the majority Dinka ethnic group, and Machar is an ethnic Nuer. Jok said that he is concerned fighting between those groups could break out across the country. 

The fears of ethnic conflict were reiterated in a Dec. 17 church leaders' statement. "There is a political problem between leaders within the SPLM. This should not be turned into an ethnic problem. Sadly, on the ground it is developing into tribalism. This must be defused urgently before it spreads. Reconciliation is needed between the political leaders," said Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro on behalf of various church leaders, who offered to mediate in the crisis. "The way this incident is handled will have an effect on the future of our nation, whether positive or negative, both internally and in terms of international relations."

Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern "about reports of fighting between members of the SPLA in Juba and about the risk of targeted violence against certain communities. It is essential that the government guarantees the security of all civilians regardless of their communities of origin,” he said in a statement. 

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Dec. 17 urged "the government and leadership of South Sudan and all other stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and avert any further escalation."

The response 
On Dec. 17, after leaving an emergency cabinet meeting, Mawien Makol Arik, the foreign affairs ministry spokesman, said that the military believes it now has the situation under control, although there are still reports of fighting at Juba's outskirts.  The Juba airport, which was closed, is expected to resume operations, according to an Dec. 18 government statement, in which government spokesman Micheal Makuei, also the minister of information and broadcasting, called on "water suppliers, bakeries and other essential service providers" to resume work. Makuei further urged those who have fled their homes to return. But a city-wide dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in place and police checkpoints dot most of the major roads in Juba. 

Refuting claims that ethnic Nuer are being targeted in the fighting in Juba, Unity state Gov. Simon Kun Pouch said in the government statement: "There are people out there saying what has happened is between the Dinka and the Nuer tribesmen. We, the leaders of this country, would want state here that this is not true." Some of the people supporting Machar are Dinkas, others are Chol, Nuer or from other tribes, he said. 

South Sudan has been struggling to contain a long-running ethnic conflict in its Jonglei state, which has led to thousands of deaths and massive population displacement. (Read IRIN's Briefing on Jonglei). 

From the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), Dec. 18