At least 21 people reportedly died in the attempt to overthrow President Salva Kiir on December 16, 2013.

South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir, yesterday, December 16, 2013 announced that an attempted coup by disgruntled soldiers was crushed after overnight heavy gunfire in the capital, Juba, reportedly between rival factions of the Presidential Guard.

The BBC cited President Kiir who announced a night time curfew as telling reporters that the government was in full control. Wearing military uniform rather than his usual civilian clothing, the President said fighting began when unidentified uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the ruling party and former rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM. He said the government was pursuing the attackers and that justice would prevail.

Unconfirmed reports said the fight broke out after President Salva Kiir allegedly ordered the Army Chief of Staff, James Hoth Mai, to arrest dissident politicians, including Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of the country’s ruling party founder, later John Garang. On Sunday evening, forces from the former Joint Integrated Units, JIUs, came under heavy gun exchange after unexpected changes were made within the Presidential Guards, a military source said.

It however remained unclear how many people died. Eyewitnesses claimed that about 21 people, including a former commander of the JIUs, were among those killed, the Sudan Tribune newspaper reported. Its reporter in Juba said heavy gunfire continued in the capital yesterday despite the heavy deployment of tanks in the city. Initially, the firing was confined to the military barracks, but later extended to areas occupied by civilians and Bilpam, the headquarters of the army.

Tensions have been high in South Sudan - the world's youngest country that became independent in 2011 - since President Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet, including his deputy Riek Machar, last July in an apparent power struggle. Machar had indicated he planned to contest the presidential elections in 2015. Kiir is from the Dinka community, which is the largest in South Sudan, while Machar is from the Nuer, the second-largest. Some Nuer have complained about Dinka political domination.