South Sudan is the newest country in the world, and recently, President Salva Kiir,fired his Vice President, Riek Machar for a variety of reasons. One of the reason for this, was because Riek Machar promised to run against Salva Kiir in the next election. This would seem like the most logical reason to get rid of the Vice President, but there is another big reason. Everyone believes that he was fired because of his participation in the Nuer tribe. As a result, the Vice President and many of his Nuer followers, lead a rebellion against Salva Kiir, and the Dinka tribe that he is a part of. The entire government is having major issues, and it’s only being made worse with the lack of a productive President and Vice President.
(Human Rights Watch 2014)
The conflict between the two tribes, is rooted in a dispute over land between farmers of the South Sudan Dinka, and cattle-herding Nuer. Cattle have historically been held at the highest value among the Nuer. Inside South Sudan, a cattle-raiding feud between rival ethnic groups in some states, has left hundreds of people dead. (Copnall, 2013) Some of the casualties of this war include over 100,000 deaths and more than 200,000 people that have been displaced. Several rebel forces opposed to the government have emerged, including the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) that was originally formed by a former government employed general, George Athor. (Leithead, 2013) The government inside the capital of Juba, says that these forces are funded by Sudan, which denies the accusation.
Tribal Trouble
in South Sudan
Auth0r: Alexander Berry