The streets of South Sudan’s capital were charged with tension on Saturday, the nation’s fifth independence anniversary, after an outbreak of heavy fighting on the eve left at least 150 soldiers dead.
Friday’s violence in the world’s youngest country represents yet another blow to a shaky peace deal that has so far failed to end the civil war that broke out in December 2013.
“The number of casualties is over 150 killed,” said Roman Nyarji, a spokesman for rebel leader turned Vice President Riek Machar, adding the death toll of soldiers on both sides may rise further.
“We are expecting a bigger number of casualties because the two units of the presidential guard were all engaged yesterday,” he said referring to bodyguard units of Machar and his rival President Salva Kiir.
The shooting began when Kiir and Machar met at the presidential palace and initially involved each man’s bodyguards.
The shootout, lasting about half an hour, quickly escalated from small-arms fire to heavier weapons and spread with machine-gun and artillery heard in several parts of Juba before subsiding after nightfall.
Kiir and Machar described Friday’s violence as “unfortunate”.
The capital was tense Saturday with a heavy security presence and few civilians on the streets.
Foreign governments warned their nationals to leave the country if possible, or stay indoors.
“British Embassy staff have been on lock down and we are reducing to only essential staff in the country,” Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement.
“If you have no pressing need to remain, you should consider leaving (by commercial means), if it is safe to do so.”