A Countries Chaos
The fighting and fleeing of the world's newest nation
The
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by: Jt Balano
The South Sudan has been experiencing devastating events such as rebels opposing the government and deaths of over 10,000 people. According to the UN, about 723,000 people have been internally displaced from South Sudan and another 145,000 people have fled their homes. Ethiopia, being a neighbor the South Sudan, has received the greatest amount of fleeing citizens. (South Sudan Conflict: New Peace Talks Begin, 2014)
This situation has been elevated from a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Reik Machar, to an all out war. The president has accused Machar of launching a coup. Machar has strongly denied this accusation. Eleven allies of Mr. Machar were taken into custody when Mr. Kiir first made allegations of a coup. Seven of these SPLM political figures have been released, but four still remain in the jail in the capital, Juba. (South Sudan Conflict: New Peace Talks Begin, 2014) Luckily, as of right now, the two sides have both signed a ceasefire. Everyone, however, is a little skeptical as to how long this ceasefire will last. The newest nation is so filled with violence that something somewhere will more than likely cause one side or another to get upset and the ceasefire will no longer be active. (Harding, 2014)
Meanwhile, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres says thousands of people are facing life threatening conditions in the bush
near the town of Leer. Just before the town was attacked on January 30, MSF staff members fled Leer, taking the most critically ill patients with them in order to get away from the violence. "The staff who remain in touch with MSF report that worsening security has pushed them further into the bush," said Raphael Gorgeu, head of MSF's mission in South Sudan. "They have split into smaller groups to decrease the chance of attack and divided their supplies of medicines, which they are saving to treat only the most life-threatening cases." (South Sudan Conflict: Peace Talks Begin)
The state in the South Sudan is becoming worse and worse. Besides for the temporary ceasefire, nothing has really changed all that much in the eyes of both the government and the rebels. Hopefully the two sides can reach an agreement and stop putting innocent lives in danger.
Harding, A. (n.d.). South Sudan holds its breath 21````easefire. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-25878235
South Sudan conflict: New peace talks begin. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26144045
South Sudan profile. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14019202