South Sudanese Civil War

South Sudanese Civil War
Conflict	South Sudanese Civil War
Partof	the aftermath of the Second Sudanese Civil War
Caption	Map showing the states of South Sudan at the outbreak of the conflict.
Date	15 December 2013 – 22 February 2020
Place	South Sudan
Result	Revitalized peace agreement signed; formation of a unity government
Combatant1	Government of South Sudan:, Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), Supported by:, Uganda People's Defence Force, Sudanese Armed Forces (from 2018)
Combatant2	Opposition:, SPLA-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), Other factions:, South Sudan Democratic Movement, South Sudan Liberation Army, Supported by:, Sudan (until 2018)
Commander1	Salva Kiir Mayardit, Paul Malong Awan, Taban Deng Gai
Commander2	Riek Machar, Lam Akol, Peter Gadet

South Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was a multi-sided civil war in South Sudan that began in late 2013, just over two years after the country gained independence from Sudan. It primarily pitted forces loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Dinka ethnic group against those aligned with former Vice President Riek Machar, a prominent Nuer leader. The war was characterized by extreme violence, widespread atrocities, and a severe humanitarian crisis, drawing in numerous armed factions and regional powers before a fragile peace was established.

Background and causes

The roots of the conflict lie in the political and ethnic tensions that persisted after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. Longstanding rivalries within the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) between Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Machar escalated in 2013. A major catalyst was Kiir's dismissal of Machar and the entire cabinet in July 2013, which heightened fears of Dinka political dominance among other groups like the Nuer. Deep-seated issues of governance, control over Juba, and the distribution of oil revenues from regions like Unity State and Upper Nile State further fueled the instability. The legacy of militia politics from the previous war and the weak integration of various armed groups into the national Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) created a volatile environment primed for conflict.

Timeline of major events

The war erupted on 15 December 2013 following a reported coup attempt in Juba, which triggered ethnically targeted killings. Fighting quickly spread to Bor in Jonglei State and to Bentiu in Unity State. Major offensives occurred throughout 2014 and 2015, including the pivotal Battle of Malakal for control of Upper Nile State. A peace deal in August 2015 led to Machar's return to Juba and his reappointment as Vice President in April 2016. However, this collapsed in July 2016 with fierce fighting in Juba, forcing Machar to flee. The conflict then fragmented, with significant battles like the 2017 fall of Kodok and continued violence in the Equatoria region. The signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in September 2018 marked a major turning point, leading to a ceasefire and the formation of a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2020.

Warring parties and foreign involvement

The primary belligerents were the government forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the SPLA-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by Riek Machar. Numerous other militias also participated, including the South Sudan Democratic Movement under Lam Akol and the South Sudan Liberation Army. Regionally, Uganda deployed the Uganda People's Defence Force in support of Kiir's government. Sudan, under Omar al-Bashir, initially supported Machar's opposition but shifted its allegiance after 2018. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) played a key mediating role, while the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) established protection sites. Other actors like the African Union and the Troika (United States, United Kingdom, Norway) were deeply involved in diplomacy and sanctions.

Humanitarian impact and war crimes

The conflict caused one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, displacing over four million people and pushing parts of Unity State and Jonglei State into famine in 2017. The United Nations and groups like Amnesty International documented systematic war crimes, including the 2014 Bentiu massacre, killings in Bor, and widespread sexual violence. The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan reported acts of ethnic cleansing and forced starvation as a method of warfare. Civilian protection sites operated by UNMISS housed nearly 200,000 people. Humanitarian access was routinely obstructed, and aid workers from organizations like Doctors Without Borders were targeted. The Hybrid Court for South Sudan, proposed as part of the peace agreement, was never established to prosecute perpetrators.

Peace processes and agreements

Multiple mediation efforts were led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), with envoys like Seyoum Mesfin of Ethiopia. The first major deal was the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan signed in August 2015 in Addis Ababa, which established a Transitional Government of National Unity. Its collapse in 2016 led to the High-Level Revitalization Forum convened by IGAD. This process culminated in the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018 in Addis Ababa. Key provisions included a permanent ceasefire, power-sharing arrangements, and the reunification of the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The African Union and the United Nations Security Council maintained pressure on the parties, leading to the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2020, with Riek Machar returning as Vice President.

Aftermath and legacy

The formation of the unity government in 2020 began a fragile transitional period slated to conclude with elections. However, implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has been slow, with ongoing violence between communal militias and delays in unifying the army. The war devastated the economy of South Sudan, crippling oil production in Unity State and exacerbating hyperinflation. A generation was affected by the disruption of education and the recruitment of child soldiers by groups like the White Army. The conflict also reshaped regional dynamics, strengthening the diplomatic role of IGAD and neighbors like Sudan and Uganda. The legacy of mass trauma, entrenched ethnic polarization, and a culture of impunity for atrocities committed in places like Bentiu and Malakal continues to challenge national cohesion and stability.

Category:South Sudanese Civil War Category:Wars involving South Sudan Category:21st-century conflicts