Upper Nile in South Sudan Prepares for War

 Small Arms Survey published in March 2023 an analysis titled "Upper Nile Prepares to Return to War."

Armed groups are mobilizing for conflict in South Sudan's Upper Nile province.  The commanders of the armed groups in Upper Nile are acting with different degrees of autonomy from their backers in the capital of Juba.  A resurgence of violence will interrupt the distribution of humanitarian supplies and services in Upper Nile and Jonglei provinces.  

South Sudan: War in Jonglei

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 22 December 2014 a major report titled "South Sudan: Jonglei--'We Have Always Been at War'."  The ICG concluded that the trajectory of war in Jonglei makes it imperative for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to enhance its political presence in South Sudan, to better engage with armed groups, and to ensure talks in Addis Ababa reflect the diversity of armed interests on the ground. 

Violence Continues in Sudan's Darfur and South Sudan's Jonglei

The Enough Project published several recent reports concerning the ongoing violence in Sudan's Darfur region and South Sudan's Jonglei State. 

John Prendergast, Omer Ismail and Akshaya Kumar authored "The Economics of Ethnic Cleansing in Darfur" dated August 2013.  They report that Janjaweed forces are once again torching villages, terrorizing civilians and systematically clearing prime land and resource-rich areas of their inhabitants.  More than 300,000 Darfuris have been displaced so far this year and another 75,000 have sought refuge in neighboring Chad.  An economic agenda is the major driver for the escalating violence, which is fueled by land grabbing, consolidating control of recently discovered gold mines, manipulating reconciliation conferences for increased blood money, expanding protection rackets and smuggling networks, and demanding ransoms. 

A report dated 6 August 2013 titled "Evidence of Violence, Civilian Displacement in South Sudan's Jonglei State" is based on the Satellite Sentinel Project, which revealed destruction of portions of the central market and abandonment of residential areas in Pibor.  There was also considerable expansion of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) encampment in the town.  An estimated 100,000 civilians have been displaced.  A short piece by Garrett Moore on 30 July 2013 titled "Jonglei Civilians Urgently Need Protection and Assistance" explains that fighting is occurring between the SPLA and the rebel forces of David Yau-Yau. 

Continuing Conflict in Jonglei, South Sudan

The Refugees International blog site has two recent postings concerning ongoing conflict in Jonglei State of South Sudan precipitated by fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the rebel group led by David Yau Yau.  The first commentary by Caelin Briggs on 14 May 2013 is titled "South Sudan Army Commits Atrocities in Jonglei as Aid Workers Flee."  The second one is by Dara McLeod dated 20 May 2013 and titled "S.Sudan Army Causing Atrocities, Humanitarian Emergency in Pibor."