A guide to the fighting which has wracked south sudan, the worlds newest country. In july 2011, south sudan was granted independence and became the worlds newest country. Examining the status of the south sudan civil war and discussing the evolving. The south sudanese civil war was a conflict in south sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces. Now theyre sounding the alarm, warning that south sudan, the worlds newest country, is on the brink of catastrophe that could rival the horrors of the 1994 rwandan genocide. South sudan is home to more than 60 ethnic groups, with the dinka and the nuer. It was signed in addis ababa on the 12th of september 2018 with the aim to end the fiveyear civil conflict in south sudan. Other minor rebel groups include the shilluk, bari, zande, balanda etc. What is both different and depressing, though, is that even. The crisis in south sudan congressional research service 2 improve. The sudans civil war, also the first in postcolonial africa, began, with the torit mutiny, a few months before independence was attained on 1 january 1956. The war started in southern sudan but spread to other places including the nuba mountains and the blue nile region. The cold war played an important role in the sudanese civil wars, particularly in the first war 19561978.
Dec 23, 2018 the second sudanese civil war was an intense 22year conflict between the central government in khartoum and the sudan peoples liberation army spla. South sudan as regional pawn 2 the red sea arena 4 rebooting us policy to support conflict resolution and regional stability 5 conclusion 8 payton knopf south sudans civil war and conflict dynamics in the red sea summary the regional political and security dynamics that surround south sudans ongoing civil war. Johnson gives an inside look at south sudan becoming independent as well the conflict that followed. After months of delays and deadlock, bitter rivals salva kiir and riek machar finally clinched an agreement to form a unity government in south sudan. There are many causes for the conflict in south sudan, ranging from ethnic tensions, management of oil resources and the power struggle between president salva kiir and opposition leader dr. Following this war, sudan was distanced from the west while soviets moved in. The country is now bearing the devastating human and financial costs of a complex conflict with everchanging armed and political actors. Geneva, small arms survey graduate institute of international and development. At this particular moment, the main parties involved in the ongoing civil war are troops of president salva kiir representing the government and the opposing forces are of former vice president machar. Yet just twoandahalf years after this momentous decision, the. South sudan may be heading towards genocide youtube. Continuing fighting has displaced more than 1,000,000 and killed over 10,000 while a humanitarian crisis threatens many more.
The south sudanese civil war is an ongoing conflict in south sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces. The government of sudan and rebels, prodded by western powers led by the united states, eventually signed an agreement in january 2005, known as the comprehensive peace agreement cpa, ending the countrys long civil war. The comprehensive peace agreement in 2005 brought with it a sixyear interim ceasefire period that was followed by official handover of power from the sudan to the republic of south sudan. Weapon supplies into south sudans civil war conflict. The country of south sudan gained its independence from sudan in 2011, but two years later, this new nation of 11 million people became embroiled in. May 10, 2014 a guide to the fighting which has wracked south sudan, the worlds newest country. It argues that predation by armed groups during the second civil war 19832005 initiated a process of dominant class formation, and demonstrates how, through various strategies of resource capture and kinship networks, commanders from the sudan peoples. In 2017, south sudan s civil war entered its fourth year, spreading across the country with new fighting in greater upper nile, western bahr al ghazal, and the equatorias, featuring highly. Aid organizations face an array of humanitarian access. After nearly three years of civil war, south sudan has ceased to perform. The south sudan defence forces in the wake of the juba declaration. The untold story from independence to civil war hilde f. Beyond the human toll on south sudans longsuffering citizens, the countrys unravel ing has. My holistic treatment of the first civil war is intended to assist in a full understanding the root causes of the second civil war in the sudan, which lasted another twentytwo years from 1983 to 2005.
Afp following his dismissal, machar had claimed that he planned to head the sudan peoples liberation movement splm, which led the country to secede from khartoum after fighting one of africas longest civil wars. The first agreement collapsed just after one year when renewed fighting broke out. The most likely to intervene is uganda, which in the early phases of the civil war in 2014 interceded decisively in favour of the sitting government in south sudan, which probably averted the overthrow of the regime by machars rebels. Through its development aid, the eu also helps to strengthen the national health system. Conflict analysis and options for systemic conflict. Machar denied trying to start a coup and fled to lead the splm in opposition splmio. A brief history of the civil war in south sudan comboni. From independence to civil war united states holocaust memorial. The revitalized agreement on the resolution of conflict in south sudan is a typical powersharing settlement, rooted in both democratic and conflict management theories. A political power struggle between south sudanese president salva kiir and former. Ending south sudans civil war council on foreign relations. The first sudanese civil war south african history online.
The reprioritisation of its mandated tasks has essentially divided the country in two for the beleaguered unmiss. It was largely a continuation of the first sudanese civil war of 1955 to 1972. This paper argues that it is simplistic to attribute the recent civil war in south sudan to the presence and exploration of crude oil in that country. Solutions for moving beyond an ethnic conflict kuntzelman 83 cause of southern sudans current underdevelopment is rooted in this colonial history, as colonial preference was given to the arab regions of the north, where power and decisionmaking became centralized in. Prior to the six day war in 1967, the united kingdom supported the sudanese government. It would be a mistake, however, to interpret these as the root causes of the conflict.
It soon proved to be a disaster for the population, a threat to the integrity of the worlds youngest state and an embarrassment and. A major step toward ending south sudans civil war crisis group. Following this war, sudan was distanced from the west while soviets moved in to support the government cooper, 2003. It argues that predation by armed groups during the second civil war 19832005 initiated a process of dominant class formation, and demonstrates how, through various strategies of resource capture and kinship networks, commanders from the sudan peoples liberation. Civil war commenced, which lasted for more than twenty years. Dec 15, 2018 south sudan marks 5 years of vicious civil war more than 4 million people have been uprooted by the bloodletting, the majority of whom are children, according to unicef. As its implementation faltered, violence between factions broke out again in july 2016, setting back the peace process once again. Rather, the claim of the former liberation movement and now. Pdf a year of south sudans third civil war researchgate. The south sudanese civil war is showing an increasing tendency towards an ethnopolitical conflict. In south sudan there are a total of 64 different ethnic groups. With the south sudanese conflict in its fifth year in 2018, this paper seeks to not. Fighting broke out between the sudan peoples liberation movement splm. Jul, 2016 south sudan gained independence from sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war two years later.
Sentry writes, the key catalyst of south sudans civil war has been competition for the grand prizecontrol over state assets and the countrys abundant natural resources between rival kleptocratic networks led by president kiir and vice president machar. To date, two powersharing agreements have been signed since civil war broke out in south sudan in december 20. Solutions for moving beyond an ethnic conflict kuntzelman 83 cause of southern sudans current underdevelopment is rooted in this colonial history, as colonial preference was given to the arab regions of the north, where power and decisionmaking became centralized in the northern capital of khartoum. Dec 29, 2016 now theyre sounding the alarm, warning that south sudan, the worlds newest country, is on the brink of catastrophe that could rival the horrors of the 1994 rwandan genocide. Since its independence in 2011, south sudan is battling a new civil war. Following independence from sudan in july 2011, a political crisis sparked fighting in the republic of south sudans capital, juba, in december 20 that quickly spread to other parts of the country, igniting civil war. Geneva, small arms survey graduate institute of international and development studies. South sudan marks 5 years of vicious civil war abc news. Pdf civil wars in greater sudan and south sudan civil war. More than 115 aid workers have been killed in south sudan since the start of the civil war in 20. The latter group included the majority of southern sudans population, many of whom were already up in arms over fears that the south would be further marginalized by the northernbased government. On 15 december 20 the worlds newest state descended into civil war.
A mere two years after achieving independence, south sudan in 20 descended into violent civil war, refuting us government claims that the countrys succession was a major foreign policy success and would end endemic conflict. The sudan was the first african territory administered by britain to be granted independence after world war two. Since the eruption of the armed conflict in the south sudan, the splma leadership remained in the hands of the former chairman late dr. Years of international efforts to bring an end to decades of conflict by helping to negotiate the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005 and later efforts to ensure a smooth. In 2017, south sudans civil war entered its fourth year, spreading across the country with new fighting in greater upper nile, western bahr al ghazal, and the equatorias, featuring highly. Download the brief the issue since gaining its independence from sudan in 2011, south sudan has struggled to fulfill the promise of a new nation, eventually descending into civil war in late 20. It links the civil war in south sudan to systematic marginalization of the african populations of. The untold story from independence to civil war, hilde f. The second sudanese civil war was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central sudanese government and the sudan peoples liberation army. It soon proved to be a disaster for the population, a threat to the integrity of the. The president informed congress that he may take further action to support the security of u. The new civil war in south sudan began in december 20. This article addresses the social and political implications of wartime and postwar resource capture in south sudan.
South sudan gained independence from sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war two years later. Based on three years of fieldwork, this report shows how military equipment has reached all sides of south sudans civil war. Although it originated in southern sudan, the civil war spread to the nuba mountains and the blue nile. The second sudanese civil war was an intense 22year conflict between the central government in khartoum and the sudan peoples liberation army spla.
Yet just twoandahalf years after this momentous decision, the country was in the grips of renewed civil war and political strife. In december 20, president kiir accused his former deputy riek machar and ten others of attempting a coup detat. Regional leaders must now maintain pressure on both men and other conflict parties to keep the fragile deal on track. Regional retransfers and international intermediaries.
South sudan european civil protection and humanitarian aid. South sudans civil war and conflict dynamics in the red sea. Since 2018, the eu has also contributed to actions in south sudan that strengthen ebola prevention and preparedness actions in the country. Aug 06, 2018 1978 oil discovered in unity state in southern sudan second civil war. South sudan marks 5 years of vicious civil war more than 4 million people have been uprooted by the bloodletting, the majority of whom are children, according to. South sudan faces famine, potential genocide in civil war. Civil war in south sudan sudan peoples liberation army spla soldiers and a journalist leave a helicopter after a flight to bor, in juba, south sudan on january 25, 2014 andreea campeanureuters. In addition to the sudan, the republic of south sudan shares borders with ethiopia. Tens of thousands of south sudanese have been killed and 4 million have fled their homes2 million internally displaced and 2 million as refugees in neighboring countries. Pdf with the south sudanese conflict in its fifth year in 2018, this paper seeks to not only examine the status of the civil war that has engulfed. South sudan became independent as an oil state, with 97 percent of government revenue and 60 percent of gdp from this one source. South sudan, civil war, power struggle, ethnic violence. The cpa provided for a new constitution and outlined new measures for sharing power, distributing wealth, and providing.
703 602 1526 1101 317 835 149 1246 123 142 466 81 1567 572 1503 1529 1525 350 503 369 1264 1247 1402 947 605 792 511 552 321 1125 1013 276 819 1076 1368 541 135 1408 1397 1275 928 48 1113 51