Juba: president accused ex-VP for coup

         S.Sudan president Kíír

 South Sudan president, Salva Kiir has accused former vice-president Riek Machar of alleged involvement in Sunday's attack on a military base in the country's capital, Juba. President Salva Kiir and defence minister Kou

A former minister in South Sudan government has been arrested for being behind the alleged coup attempt in the country’s capital, Juba.

South Sudan’s former minister Gier Chuang Aluong (MDI)

Gier Chuang Aluong was reportedly arrested this morning by the security personnel supposedly acting under the directive of the country’s president, Salva Kiir.

Kiir told a press conference that the limited fighting in the military barracks in Juba was an attempted coup and vowed to bring to justice those responsible.

The president directly accused South Sudan’s former vice-president, Riek Machar, who is currently in Juba, of having soldiers allied to him attack the military barracks.

The president said those involved in the attack would be pursued and vowed to ensure they faced justice, if found guilty.

It is, however, unclear how the ex-minister was directly connected the said "coup attempt."

Aluong, who hails from Pigi county in South Sudan’s Jonglei state served as the national minister for interior prior to the country’s independence and later as minister for roads and bridges in the new government formed after July 2011.

He recently allied to Machar’s group that has openly criticised president Kiir’s style of leadership.

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Meanwhile, a number of key South Sudanese officials have feared to have been arrested for allegedly instigating fighting which erupted on Sunday night within the presidential guard forces, bringing business to a stand still on Monday.

"A number of the disgruntled soldiers and politicians who lured them into shooting have been found. They are now under our control. It was a clear coup but we have foiled it," a military source told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

He did not, however, disclose where the suspects are being held nor their exact number.

Majak D’ Agoot, an ex-deputy defense minister confirmed that he had been informed to remain in his house until he is picked, but did not know when this would happen.

"I have been informed that they (government agents) would come to me. I have been waiting but I don’t know when they will come", D’ Agoot told Sudan Tribune.

Three officials, he said, had so far been arrested, but said their whereabouts remained unknown.

"I am ready. I have asked that the house been opened to them when they come. This is why I have been in the house. They have already taken General Oyai Deng, Gier Chuang and Dr.Cirino Iteng", he said.

"The whereabouts of Pagan Amum and the others remain unclear. Nobody knows where he is at the moment, but I think he has been taken”, he added.