US President Barack Obama will stop supporting South Sudan in case of a military overthrow. The opponent of President Salva Kiir, Riek Machar called last week for a ‘palace revolution’ asking the military to remove President Kiir.
Several divisions of the SPLA army have already defected from the command of Kiir. Oil rich Unity State is largely in the hands of the defectors after General James Koang of the 4th Division announced that Unity state was now under his control and that he was no longer taking orders from Juba.
Last night president Obama issued a statement saying: “Any effort to seize power through the use of military force will result in the end of longstanding support from the United States and the international community.”
His announcement came after 3 US planes approaching the Jonglei capital Bor were hit and had to return to Uganda. The White House confirmed that four service-members were wounded. One had sustained serious injuries, but his situation is not critical. The three aircraft being targeted were CV-22 Ospreys, tilt-rotor craft that can fly like a plane and land like a helicopter.
“South Sudan’s leaders must know that continued violence will endanger the people of South Sudan and the hard-earned progress of independence,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said. “This conflict can only be resolved peacefully through negotiations. Any effort to seize power through the use of military force will result in the end of longstanding support from the United States and the international community.”
Picture: CV-22 Ospre, (US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Russell Scalf)
(Sources: Radio Tamazuj, Reuters, AP)