Conflict Across the Ethiopia-South Sudan Border

The Washington-based Wilson Center published in November 2017 a policy brief titled "Mitigating Cross-Border Conflicts along the Ethiopia-South Sudan Border" and a longer study titled "Cross-Border Intergroup Conflicts in the Horn of Africa: A Case Study of Ethiopia-South Sudan Borderland People" both by Tasew Gashaw, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar.

The author analyzes the issues facing the people who live along the porous 543-mile long border between Ethiopia and South Sudan. They face cross-border intergroup conflict that is exacerbated by South Sudan's instability, low economic inclusion in Ethiopia, and border insurgents who engage in illicit trade, child abduction, cattle rustling, and arms smuggling.

Ethiopia: Security Problem in Gambela Region

The Sudan Tribune published on 18 April 2016 an article titled "Ethiopia Launches Military Action against S. Sudan's Murle Group" by Tesfa-Alem Tekle. The Guardian published on 20 April 2016 an article titled "'Unbridled Violence' in Gambella Leaves Ethiopia Searching for Answers" by William Davison.

Both articles provide good back ground information on the unprovoked attack by Murle tribesmen from South Sudan against predominantly Nuer living in Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Ethiopia has said it is prepared to take military action against the Murle.

Ethiopia-South Sudan: Problems in Gambela Region

Al Jazeera published on 16 April 2016 a brief article titled "Ethiopia Says South Sudanese Gunmen Kill 140 Civilians" by Teo Kermeliotis.  The problem was reportedly caused by members of South Sudan's Murle tribe crossing into Ethiopia's Gambela Region.  Al Jazeera asked me to comment on the situation. 

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. 

South Sudan: Q & A with GW Today

Julyssa Lopez of George Washington Today asked me to respond to questions about the situation in South Sudan.  The interview appeared on 6 January 2014. 

Chatham House Commentary on South Sudan

London-based Chatham House recently published two brief commentaries on the situation in South Sudan.  The first dated 18 December 2013 is titled "South Sudan Divisions: Fractious Politics in a Fragile State" by Ahmed Soliman.  The second dated 19 December 2013 is titled "The Dangers of Tribalism in South Sudan" by Hannah Bryce. 

Ethnic Conflict in South Sudan

As background to the current situation in South Sudan, you might want to read the 13 September 2013 Human Rights Watch report titled "They Are Killing Us: Abuses against Civilians in South Sudan's Pibor County."  The report documents abuses against civilians in Pibor County by Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) forces.  The report deals with longstanding ethnic conflict involving Dinka Bor, Lou Nuer and Murle in Jonglei State.  

The White Army in South Sudan

For a good summary of the situation concerning the activities of the so-called White Army, recently revived by a group of Lou-Nuer youths, in Jonglei State of South Sudan, see the 22 February 2012 piece titled South Sudan Officials Rebuff the White Army Comeback by Annette LaRocco and Nenad Marinkovic on the Enough Project website.

The authors conclude that the inter-communal violence in South Sudan is a very real issue that threatens to erode the fragile social and political stability of this new nation.

Inter-Communal Violence in South Sudan

John Prendergast, Jennifer Christian and Amanda Hsiao of the Enough Project posted a thoughtful essay titled Dealing with Inter-Communal Violence in South Sudan 9 February 2012 on the e-International Relations website.

They explained that the inter-communal violence in Jonglei Province between the Murle and Lou-Nuer peoples has underscored the weaknesses in South Sudan's security and policing sectors. It has also emphasized underlying issues of a lack of accountability and political inclusion, as well as the breakdown of authority structures, which collectively threaten to erode the fragile social and political stability of South Sudan.

They urge a concerted inter-communal reconciliation process that engages the government of South Sudan, civil society, the Sudan Council of Churches, and traditional community leaders with support from the UN peacekeeping mission and donor nations. South Sudan must assume leadership of the effort in order to achieve a sustained peace between the two communities. It is necessary to increase the security capacity of appropriate organizations to ensure civilian protection. There must be grater accountability for crimes committed in the context of inter-communal violence. There needs to be greater political representation of both the Lou-Nuer and Murle communities at the state and national levels of government.

This essay and many others are found at the e-International Relations website, which was founded in 2007 by a group of postgraduate students from several universities in the United Kingdom. It is worth checking out this student-led initiative.

Nuer-Murle Conflict in South Sudan

Alhurra Television asked me to comment 6 January 2012 on the conflict in Jonglei State of South Sudan between the Lou Nuer and Murle people.

I explained that this conflict has deep roots related to cattle raiding and the cultural requirement that young men pay a bride price in cattle. The current round of cattle raiding apparently began last June when there was a small Lou Nuer raid against the Murle that resulted in some deaths. The Murle responded with a more serious attack in August against the Lou Nuer, killing a larger number of people.

The most recent attack that began in late December has resulted in as many as 3,000 deaths and threatens to disrupt stability throughout much of Jonglei State. So far, the government in Juba, represented by Vice President Riak Machar, has been unable to end the current fighting. This is an embarrassment for the new South Sudan government, although it is essentially a local issue that does not seriously threaten the South Sudan government.

Young Lou Nuer carried out the latest attack in the name of the Nuer White Army, a group that formed in the early 1990s with the help of Riak Machar and then was forced to disband after the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. For excellent background on the army, see The White Army: An Introduction and Overview by John Young published in 2007 by The Small Arms Survey.