South Sudan conflict

South Sudan conflict
Name	South Sudan conflict
Date	2013–present
Place	Juba, Unity State, Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal
Combatant1	Government of South Sudan
Combatant2	Various opposition and rebel groups
Casualties	Tens of thousands killed; millions displaced

South Sudan conflict

The conflict in South Sudan began in December 2013 and escalated into a multifaceted civil war involving rival political and military leaders, ethnic militias, and regional actors. It has affected Juba, Boron, Malakal, Bentiu, Wau, and oil-producing areas in Unity State and Upper Nile, producing a complex humanitarian and political crisis. Multiple ceasefires, ARCISS, and transitional agreements have been negotiated amid intermittent fighting involving local, regional, and international parties.

Background

Roots trace to the Second Sudanese Civil War and the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that led to the 2011 independence referendum and creation of South Sudan. Political rivalry between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar—both veterans of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)—deepened after contested leadership contests and the 2013 dismissal of Riek Machar from the cabinet. Historic tensions among Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, and other groups over land, cattle, and political power contributed to localized clashes in Warrap, Jonglei, and Lakes State. The discovery and export of oil via infrastructure linked to Heglig and pipelines to Port Sudan heightened stakes for control of revenue.

Timeline of the conflict

Initial violence erupted in December 2013 with fighting in Juba between forces loyal to Salva Kiir and Riek Machar. The conflict spread through 2014 and 2015, including the Bentiu massacre and battles for Malakal. In 2015 and 2016 numerous ceasefires and the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS) sought power-sharing, but clashes resumed in July 2016 when Riek Machar returned to Juba and later fled after renewed fighting. The 2017 period saw fragmentation of opposition into groups such as the South Sudan United Movement and the National Salvation Front (NAS). In 2018 mediators from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union brokered the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), leading to a 2020 formation of a Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity. Sporadic violence continued into 2021 and 2022 with clashes in Upper Nile and Unity State, and reciprocal defections among commanders.

Belligerents and factions

Primary parties have included forces aligned to Salva Kiir (often still described as SPLA or SSPDF) and factions loyal to Riek Machar including the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA). Other key actors: the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Thomas Cirilo, the South Sudan United Front (SS-UF) under Paul Malong Awan, and militias such as the Mathiang Anyoor. Regional actors and proxies involved include elements from Sudan, Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), and SPLM-IO splinters. International coalitions and UNMISS contributed peacekeepers and protection-of-civilians sites.

Humanitarian impact and displacement

Fighting produced mass atrocities, including targeted killings and sexual violence documented in and around Bentiu, Bentiu IDP Camp, Malakal Protection of Civilians site, and Bor. Food insecurity and famine warnings affected populations in Unity State and Jonglei, with agencies such as UNOCHA and the World Food Programme responding. Millions fled to neighboring countries—Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan—or were internally displaced to sites under UNMISS protection. Humanitarian corridors and aid operations faced obstruction from armed groups and attacks on convoys.

International involvement and peace efforts

Regional mediation was led by IGAD and figures including Riek Machar negotiators and Salva Kiir signatories, with facilitation by the African Union and countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. The United States and United Kingdom imposed targeted sanctions on individuals accused of undermining peace, while the United Nations Security Council authorized and adjusted the UNMISS mandate and sanctions regimes. International NGOs, the International Criminal Court, and ad hoc investigative commissions have examined alleged war crimes. Multiple rounds of negotiations, including the Khartoum talks and Addis Ababa processes, culminated in the R-ARCSS and formation of a transitional unity government.

Economic and resource dimensions

Control over oilfields in Unity State and Upper Nile has been central, involving infrastructure at Thar Jath and export routes linked to Port Sudan. Disruptions to oil production and blockades affected national revenues, which were already constrained following the 2014 oil price crash. Competition over grazing land and riverine resources along the White Nile and Bahr el Ghazal intensified local conflict dynamics. International oil companies, regional trade networks, and sanctions influenced bargaining incentives; illicit exploitation and cattle raiding contributed to the war economy.

Aftermath, reconciliation, and transitional governance

The Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity created power-sharing formulas allocating positions among signatories, with timelines for a transitional period and scheduled elections. Reconciliation efforts involved traditional customary leaders such as chiefs and justice mechanisms blending customary courts and proposals for a hybrid tribunal, while truth-seeking initiatives echoed models like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission frameworks used elsewhere. Implementation gaps, contested security arrangements, and localized grievances risk renewal of hostilities, while DDR (disarmament, demobilization, reintegration) programs, international assistance, and conditional finance remain critical to stabilisation.

Category:Civil wars of Africa