Washington, DC, December 17, 2013 (SSNA) — The United States has ordered its entire ‘non-emergency staff’ to leave the fragile South Sudan and suspended ‘embassy operations amid’ political turmoil in the world’s newest nation.
Fighting erupted in Juba last Sunday night and it is still ongoing. Sporadic gunfire can be heard and the situation in Juba remains tense.
In a strongly worded statement, the US State Department said all American citizens must leave South Sudan 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 statement reads in part.
The White House Press Secretary Jay Carney also said the United States is “deeply concerned” about the situation adding that the "circumstances there have gotten worse”.
The U.S. asked the South Sudanese government to open Juba International airport so that its citizens and embassy personnel can be flown out of the country.