A Defining Moment in History

In American culture the Civil War is perceived as a good thing to discus when teaching someone US history. In Sudan, the civil war is can seen as the most important moment on Sudanese history.

South Sudan became and independent state in 2011. In December 2013, a civil war broke out in Sudan. These two events were a direct effect of the famine on the country and the tens of thousands of people that were killed. A lot of the problems in this war infiltrated the government and rebel groups in Sudan and in turn, created long-standing issues. These issues are oil, government, war, crimes, child soldiers, and the Abyei area.

Sudan and South Sudan’s government are both responsible for the on going conflict in these countries right now. In July 2013, the army loyal to Vice President Riek Machar took over Juba. Due to Machar’s guidance, the group has taken on an ethnic vengeance against the President Salva Klir, who is ethnically Dinka. Rebels, Nuer White Army, and pro-government forces can be held accountable as perpetrators of genocide. Rebels have murdered hundred, hosted radio broadcasts encouraging rape, and hate crimes of ethnicity. While, pro-government armies have been violent with UN peacekeepers and other civilians.

Since 2013, both parties have perpetrated human rights violations. They have committed countless war crimes, this includes, murder, rape and child soldiers. They have targeted civilians ethnically and politically. These are the effects of the government infiltrating the militias and allowing the civilians to get rid of one population.

In 2012, Sudan and South Sudan’s tensions rose and began to be more visible. The two countries started to fight about the oil-producing region Heglig. This area is very important to Sudan because it contains a majority of the country’s oil after South Sudan succeeded. After tensions rose, Sudan bombed an oil installation near the capital of South Sudan’s unity state. Then in response, the South Sudanese attack Heglig. After this attack South Sudanese report Sudanese Armed Forces bombing southern oil fields.

The Abyei area is very interesting because it is the buffer between Sudan and South Sudan. It is a disputed territory. The Abyei protocol states that at the end of a six-year intern the people in this land would decide whether they are a part of Sudan or South Sudan. Sudan never recognized these people. In May 2011, a government led militia and Sudanese Air Forces attacked this area. Dinka farmers are the main population of this area. Hence the primary motives for this attack. This attack destroyed civil property and displaced 110,000 Dinkas from their homeland.

If we do not step in soon, this might be the only Sudanese history.

– Sam

Making Sense of South Sudan

As I learn more about the shattering atrocities of Sudan and South Sudan, I find myself becoming more upset, confused, and angry. I still struggle with understanding the complex history and dimensions of atrocities and why they occur in the first place.

After the civil war between North and South Sudan, South Sudan voted to secede from Sudan.  A landslide vote in favor of secession led to the creation of the world’s newest country, South Sudan.  But they were also left with intense internal political struggles, economic failure, and security challenges that continues to create violence in all corners of the country. President Salva Kiir, who is ethnically Nuer, dismissed his entire cabinet on July 23, 2013 as a result of charges of intense corruption within the government. He fired the vice president, Riek Machar, who is ethnically Dinka, and now the government is moving towards a dictatorship with Kiir at the helm. Gross violence between the government’s guard, loyal to Kiir, and the army, loyal to Machar, in the capital city of Juba in 2013. This fighting was the head of the tension, and since then the violence has taken the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced 2 million.

When someone thinks of violence in African countries, the image of militant rebel groups committing atrocities against innocent civilians comes to mind. While this image is true (the LRA, SPLM, and more continue to wage violence against civilians), the government of South Sudan perpepuates many crimes against humanity. Arbitrary detention and attacks on journalists and other civilians constantly occur, and people are caught in the cross fire of warring ethnicities and loyalties. The typical American schema of war that comes to mind is “good vs. bad” or “X religion vs. Y religion”. I think the complex layers of corruption that rip at Sudan had me so upset that there is no easy fix or simple approach to dealing with the atrocities that people face as a result of all these groups all pointing guns at each other.

United to End Genocide has created a short list of things the international community can actually do to intervene in the situation. The first is to demand humanitarian access. In many cases, governments resist the UN and prevent peacekeepers from entering, or fail to adhere to peace agreements, leaving populations at risk to die. These populations have very few options if their family has faced murder, torture, rape, or abduction. They cannot continue to make their own living when their homes and farms are taken away from them. International sources can also use targeted sanctions in order to hold individuals who resist humanitarian access and individuals who have perpetuated war crimes accountable. The need for mechanisms that ensure proper justice and accountability is so key in creating change for South Sudan.

Sudan has been broken and battered from all sides, from the 22 year civil war, to governmental corruption and ethnic discrimination between tribes, to warring militias. I still struggle with understanding its complex history with my current frame of reference. I know that the violence of South Sudan will never make sense to me, no matter how many accounts I read or history lessons I get. I am blown away by the lack of personal emotion of those who can commit these types of crimes against children and innocent people. But I also know that now that as I am learning about the plight of Sudan (and other at risk countries) it is always on my mind. The overarching thought over all the violence and death though, is what I actually do?

Jen

Too much conflict, too little progress for peace

Darfur is located in the western region of Sudan.

During the civil war between northern and southern Sudan, yet another conflict emerged in Darfur. Two rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement acted on feelings of economic marginalization and insecurity. These rebel groups consisted of people from the tribes of the region, tribes such as the Fur and the Zaghawa. In 2003, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality movement began to actively rebel against the Sudanese government.

Members of the Justice and Equality Movement

Members of the Janjaweed

As a result of this rebellion, the Sudanese government sought help from a few of the nomadic tribes in Darfur. In exchange for helping the Sudanese government fight the rebel groups, the various tribes were promised land. These tribes formed a militia called Janjaweed.

Since then, the Janjaweed, with support from the Sudanese Government’s National Congress Party, has wrecked havoc on Darfur, killing around 300,000 people and displacing close to 4 million people. The rebel groups even have conflict within themselves. One conflict led to the separation of the Sudan Liberation Movement into two groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi.

Despite this, the conflict in Darfur is still continuing today. In 2014 alone, more than 430,000 people were displaced, as well as allegations of mass rapes for approximately 200 women and girls. International mediators have managed to create a group called Liberation and Justice Movement. This group consists of various rebel groups seeking to negotiate a Darfur Peace Agreement. In 2006, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi signed the Darfur Peace Agreement but no progress has been made since the most powerful rebel groups refuse to take part in the negotiations.

-Steph

References:

URL: http://www.enoughproject.org/conflicts/sudans/conflicts­sudan#darfur

Title: Conflicts in Sudan

URL: http://www.globalr2p.org/regions/sudan

Title: Sudan: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect—Populations at Risk

Broken Countries, Broken Within

Once a complete nation, The Republic Sudan (Now North and South Sudan) has appeared to consistently suffer damage since the beginning of this conflict began in 1983. In 2011, Southern Sudan voted to succeed from the state of Sudan to form it’s own independent country known as The Republic of South Sudan. Since this revolutionary mark, there have been consistently more aggressive and dangerous conflicts within each of the states.

The Republic of South Sudan

Since the formation of the independent nation, political corruption, civil war, and border violence between the North and South have escalated from one violent conflict to another. Ethnic differences within the state have caused an orientation towards genocide and crime in order to resolve power conflicts.The government of South Sudan is lead by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), who once fought against the Northern Sudanese troops. Yet, both the government and rebel groups, that have attempted to overthrow government forces, are guilty of committing hate crimes. Therefore, it appears that in this situation, there is no “good” or “bad” only a “bad” and a “worse”. While the rebels may be attempting wide-scale massacre based on ethnic differences, the government also appears to attack the UN forces that are attempting to mediate the conflicts and well as the rebel forces that are challenging the government and putting civilians at risk. One of the greatest issues in South Sudan that appears to persist is the conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and some of the rebel groups that exist to cause death and destruction in the country. The oppression of the government on these forces, and the consistent feedback from the groups have escalated to civil war, resulting in the death and displacement of the civilians that are caught in the middle. Rape, ethnic targeting, death, mutilation, and other horrific crimes have been perpetuated throughout the entire country and this has definitively setback any potential progress from the newest country in the world.

What is most interesting and difficult for South Sudan is the fact that this nation has suffered from inner and outer conflicts. Northern Sudan has implemented border conflicts, and Southern Sudan must fight inner issues as well. Not only must this exhaust militia forces and governmental resources, but this “double conflict” has also lead to the escalation in crime and conflict. Due to lack of resources, the SPLA has resorted to the easiest and most convenient forms of crime which also happen to be some of the most damaging and violent forms as well.

While negotiations have been made between the two nations, North and South Sudan continue to seize fire on one another, resulting in a perpetual state of conflict. This inter-state war will go on until both countries can come to an agreement about border control and resolve ethnic conflicts WITHOUT the use of war and crime to implement policy. Hostilities about territories, ethnic differences, and resources like oil have been the at the heart of the dispute between the 2 countries. The territory of Abyei has become a “hot spot area” for forces to enter full scale conflict. The violence in this area has displaced those civilians who reside there, and while conflict has appeared to subsided there for now, it is difficult to determine how long this perceived peace will last in the area.

The Republic of Sudan

While South Sudan has experienced intra-nation conflict as well as inter-nation conflict, Sudan has also experienced intra-state conflict. Much like South Sudan, there have been power and government conflicts. The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attempted to overthrow and attack Sudanese government forces. So what did the government do? They armed a group of tribes to counter the attack on the government forces. These tribes formed what is known as the Janjaweed, which have killed over 300,000 civilians and displaced roughly 4 million. This 11 year conflict has been referenced as the Darfur conflict of Sudan. This issue continues to occur in the North Sudanese area and peace agreements have proven ineffective in bringing this conflict to an end.

This is not the only “broken” area of North Sudan, the country has experienced escalated conflict in the South Kordofan and Blue Niles Regions of the state as well. After political elections occurred, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement‐North (SPLM‐N) fired an attack on the government and as a result, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have followed through with a counter-attack. The SAF has perpetuated mass genocide of the area and the attacks have become more severe. Satellite Images have actually captured the damage in the areas, and it is evident that famine and destruction are taking over the regions. 

What do we do?

Sudan. A complete country, to a broken country, to 2 broken countries, to broken regions within 2 broken countries. How will this progress? Will regions in both countries continue to break apart into separate areas perpetuating the conflict forever? How much more can these civilians take? How do we stop the violence? Will peace ever be settled?

I think the most obvious answer is we don’t know. Genocide is a much larger issue than it may sometimes appear. Specifically the Sudans, where each nation is incredibly troubled despite interventions and attempts at peace. The fix will not come from more violence, and it also won’t come from a force of embracing ethnic differences and power structures. The fix must come from humanitarian interventions, education, and teaching tolerance. The UN and other organizations have made strides in attempting to solve the conflicts that have been occurring in these countries, but even they are finding it difficult. I don’t have the simple answer to the problem, but it is an issue that is undeniably gaining attention and will require a lot of awareness and effort to solve.

While we may not be able to tape together the cracks in these states, we can at least make efforts to slowly glue them back together.

– Anna

Can’t we all just get along?! Conflict in South Sudan.

I want to focus on what is going on in South Sudan because after reading it…it’s messed up! Then again pretty much everything I read for this class I think is messed up in some way, shape, or form. The South Sudan Backgrounder gives a great summary of what is going on in South Sudan, as it should because it is a backgrounder! South Sudan became independent almost four years ago on July 9, 2011. Claiming independence would lead one to believe that everything is calm, cool, and collected in the country after ending Africa’s longest civil war but that is not the case for South Sudan because internal as well as outside conflict with Sudan still exists. Some of the conflict has come from President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. Basically, President Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet on July 23, 2013 which then made former VP Machar think that President Kiir was moving toward taking over the country and creating a dictatorship. Political argument is always strong because people are usually going to sway to one side or the other. The former VP Machar, ethnically Nuer, is leading a group of rebels against the President Kiir, ethnically Dinka.

Most everyone ignores the saying two wrongs don’t make a right. It is completely apparent in this situation. The internal conflict within South Sudan has lead to tens of thousands of deaths and nearly two million displaced. In addition to displacement and death toll numbers going up, millions of people that include about fifty thousand children face acute food insecurity and the threat of famine because there are blocks of harvesting crops and international aide. The government is supposed to be the running the show and putting the best interest of the people of the country first but that is obviously not happening in South Sudan right now when so many citizens are having to leave their homes for safety from extrajudicial killings, ethnic targeting, sexual violence and the use of child soldiers.

Kerry

South Sudan: When Will the Atrocities Stop?

The world’s youngest nation: South Sudan, succeeded from Sudan in July of 2011. South Sudan’s independence was a last attempt for peace to end a decade long raging civil war. Peace wasn’t guaranteed with South Sudan’s new found freedom and to the world’s devastation, little peace was actually found. Tensions along the border combined with dwindling resources and ethnic divisions encourages violent behavior thus creating conflict between rebel militia and the government.

December 2013– yet another war began. The war was a result of the political disputes between President Salva Kiir (Who was a Dinka) and former Vice President Riek Machar (Who identified as a Nuer). Both the government and rebel tribes committed mass atrocities against the people. Within the first weeks of the attacks, thousands of innocent people were murdered and an estimated 800,000 were forced to flee. 2015– Hundreds of thousands of people still are displaced and seeking protection from the UN.

There is an exorbitant amount of literature published about the South Sudanese crisis (although, the lack of awareness among Americans is astounding.) Much of such reports would explain this complicated crisis in a much better fashion than I could even attempt. Perhaps then, it is more beneficial to focus on the question weighing heavily on my mind: What is the solution to bring peace to South Sudan? Is it too simple-minded of me to believe that the solution to this crisis is obvious: a liberal democracy? Arguably, the most fundamental aspect of a liberal democracy is the protection of individual rights. If the South Sudan government could unite to create equal protection for ALL under the law, maybe just maybe, there can finally be peace for this country.

-Ally

A Responsibility to Protect

July 9th, 2011: The day South Sudan became an independent state from Sudan ending the 22 year long civil war between South Sudan and the Sudanese government.

While this initiates thoughts of excitement, a sense of freedom and a joyous time, it is quite the opposite for South Sudan. Since this date, they have seen violence from rebel militias, violence from the government, and overall corruption. Only two years ago, Decemeber 2013, a civil war broke out killing thousands upon thousands and brought South Sudan to a state of famine. The tensions stem from political issues between the President and former Vice President.

At this time, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement dominated the government. This group was once a rebel group adamant on transforming into a “legitimate” government. “Tensions came to a head when members of the presidential guard and members of the army loyal to Machar fought in the capital, Juba, in December 2013. Since then fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced some 2 million.”

The cruelty committed by the government and by groups of rebels is sickening and evil. The rebels have gone into hiding places of innocent people, including hospitals, and holy sanctuaries killing hundreds. They have felt the need to find a way to broadcast on radios urging rape as a tactic and encouraging atrocities due to ethnicities. Pro‐government forces even have attacked UN peacekeepers and the civilians they are mandated to protect. As of 2015, approximately 100,000 civilians continue to seek assistance from the UN, despite knowing their risks.

Since the outbreak of the war in 2013:

Killed: Tens of thousands

Displaced: 2 million

Risks: famine, genocide, mass atrocities

 

 

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WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN:

The threat of famine demands urgent attention. The international community and the United States should be aware of these needs!

 

• Demand humanitarian access: The US and the international community should continue to push for access to these areas to help these innocent people.
• Use targeted sanctions: Those responsible for harming others should be sanctioned! The US and the UN Security Council should expand targeted sanctions and follow through.
• Arms Embargo: The United States should push the UN Security Council to consistently check the flow of weapons and ammunition that are contributing to the growing violence.
• Reinforce diplomatic and aid efforts: The United States should have more on the ground and continue to have high-level engagement including by President Obama.
• Establish mechanisms for justice and accountability

-Casey LaPrade

I am not a politician

After reading the assigned material on South Sudan, I did not feel I had enough of an understanding of this conflict to truly put together a synthesis or even provide my perspective on this tragic civil war. I talked to a couple of classmates and friends just trying to find anything “intelligent sounding” to say and I came up dry. Not that I am anywhere close to properly politically aware or the leader of our country but, I tried to put myself in the shoes of a decision-maker where action is essential (supposedly) and being overwhelmed is not an option. Aside from a couple of expletives, I could not find unique perspective from which to stand which may either stem from lack of knowledge or lack of maturity.

While reading and synthesizing the horrific numbers, I could only think of the individual lives and the families and children that have been affected by these mass killings. Although this would make me an awful diplomat, my inability to think in hundreds of thousands or millions of casualties may suit me best for what we are about to do in a week and the rest of my days as an advocate. Trying to see where I could fit in the picture of a solution, obviously I would not be in the legislation picture but helping individuals the best I can.

It is very easy to get caught up in these images and continually ask, “what are we going to do”. I have been asking myself for the past two months and for the issue as a whole have come up with no words but “help them”.

I don’t know if this is me being entitled or too sheltered (which is not my intention) but I want to think in terms of a different picture and doing my small part is the only way I know how. As we learn more about this region of Africa and their struggles, the importance of meeting people who have lived through this tragedy and asking them “how can I help you” has become more evident to me. As an anthropology minor, coming to the refugees and offering help to them on their own terms is the best response to these readings that I could come up with because, I think, getting caught up in these images (below) will bring about more positive energy and change from where I stand, which is just a 22-year-old girl in college in the Shenandoah Valley.

-Caroline

A Fragile Nation Falls

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan became an independent state, making it the newest nation in the world. However, despite its short history, the country is extremely fragile and has been experiencing widespread corruption, violence, fighting, and border conflicts since its conception as a new nation. The start of this new nation comes off the back of a 22-year civil war between the Sudanese government and the people of South Sudan. Unfortunately, as a country striking out on its own after a long and violent conflict, the system was so fragile and new that the newly formed nation soon began to experience the violence and corruption that had plagued their past.

The conflict in South Sudan began as a series of political disputes between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. Political corruption was prevalent with Machar accusing the President of trying to turn the nation into a dictatorship and President Kiir accusing Machar of attempting to stage a coup. This resulted in the firing of the President’s entire cabinet and fighting that began in December 2013, between the presidential guard and members of the army who were loyal to Machar. As the violence progressed, the conflict began to take on a more ethnic dimension with the Dinka people aligning with the President and the Nuer siding with Machar. Neither side of this conflict has clean hands; both the government and rebel forces have committed mass atrocities against their people. Tactics used against the civilians include massacres, extrajudicial killings, ethnic targeting, sexual violence, and the use of child soldiers. To date, this civil war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands as well as displacing roughly two million civilians. Further exacerbation of the situation is the now looming threat of famine that threatens millions of lives.

There are many factors that have contributed to the speedy downfall of South Sudan. The first being the combined struggles of forming a new nation and historic ethnic tensions. The challenges that come with creating a new nation like establishing their political, economic, and military policies were already more tenuous as the single government party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has just been leading a civil war, fighting in the bush. They now had to transition to trying to establish a legitimate government. The ethnic and tribal tensions in the country halted and complicated this development. South Sudan is made up of many different ethnicities and tribes and there has always been a history of clashes and revenge attacks between groups. When the civil war broke out in 2013, the ethnic violence that had already existed fed off of the new conflict and only continued to grow.

South Sudan also had to deal with problems coming from external sources. Militia groups with a history of supporting the North tested the new nations army and caused violence within the country. Another pressing threat is the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). A rebel group that began in Uganda has provided problems in South Sudan before it became a separate nation as well as following their succession from the North. Since 2008, the LRA has displaced over 460,000 civilians and abducted more than 3,400 people, turning many children into child soldiers as well. Another external conflict is the continued struggle with Sudan. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has attacked the South, manipulated ethnicities and tribes within the country to keep the conflict going, as well as bombing several areas including locations where many refugees have fled. Two of the biggest continuing disputes between Sudan and South Sudan however, are over the region of Abyei and the South’s oil wealth. The Abyei region is a border territory that has been historically disputed and has resulted in violence over its boundaries. The oil conflict stems from the South retaining most of the oil within its borders but that the oil must travel through pipes in Sudan in order to be exported. While at one stage, an agreement was in place to split the revenues between the North and the South, in 2012 the SPLM shut down the oil wells preventing the oil from reaching Sudan.

The international community has reacted quite quickly to the conflict in South Sudan with the UN immediately condemning the violence and authorizing the deployment of more than 13,000 UN peacekeepers to the area. The problem though has been that deployment has been slow and not very effective. Many attempts at creating ceasefires have been attempted with negotiations unfortunately falling apart each time. Target sanctions have been employed but have not shown much of an effective change.

Going forward what needs to happen in South Sudan? One of the most important ideas is more as well as better humanitarian aid and access. The pressing threat is the looming famine, which would call for a marked in crease in humanitarian aid should it escalate. Also, targeted sanctions are still needed but in conjunction with arms embargos to better manage the flow of weapons and ammunition that fuels the violence. Efforts to improve South Sudan’s justice and accountability policies are also a must in order to begin holding both sides of the conflict responsible for their crimes.

Becky

Saving South Sudan from Itself

It is interesting how there are certain moments in time where we can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing. Oddly enough, one of those times for me was when the civil war in South Sudan began. My father works for a large company that has an office in South Sudan, so even before it had hit the news outlets, he got a phone call at 11:00 at night (and of course being the nosey daughter that I am I had to listen in) alerting him to the eruption of violence within the country. I picked up words like “shift”, “tribe” and “coup”, but did not connect all the dots until much later. My father’s headache lasted about a week as he struggled to find safe ways to get his colleagues safely out of the country, but those who remain in South Sudan continue to live in a constant state of chaos and violence.

As a nation that only gained its independence four years ago, it is understandable that there would be instability and difficulties for South Sudan to become an established state. Not to mention that the country that they separated from is one of the most volatile in the world, and that they were not pleased with the severance. Since December 15, 2013, South Sudan has been plagued by internal violence, rebel and militia group conflict, and conflict with Sudan. The President, Salva Kiir, was overthrown by the supporters of the ex-Vice President, Riek Machar. The two leaders are from different ethnic tribes, Kiir from the Nuer tribe and Machar from the Dinka tribe. Kiir had fired Machar earlier that year, and many think that he did so only because Machar was Dinka. When it was formed, the South Sudanese government decided to have persons from many tribes in power to make sure that each tribes voice was heard, however, it seems that their differences overcame their efforts for inclusion.

The ethnic division has also divided the army and rebel groups, who have both become engaged in this civil war. Both sides have reportedly committed mass atrocities, targeted civilians based on ethnicity, sexual violence, and the conscription of child soldiers. It is reported that more than 12,000 children have been forced to be soldiers in this civil war. Around 2 million have been displaced since the conflict began, with a large portion being children. Famine is also a major problem in South Sudan because access to crops has been blocked due to the insecurity. There have been UN peacekeepers sent in to monitor the situation, but they too have been attacked. The issues remaining that are fueling the animosity are the statues of the Abyei region, the borders, issues with regions still part of Sudan, and the sharing of oil wealth. These issues are deep rooted and do not show any promise of being resolved soon.

            What sets this conflict apart is the fact that there has been a large amount of international attention directed toward solving the issues plaguing South Sudan. The United Nations has been very involved, as well as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Major outside powers such as the United States and China have even helped to facilitate peace talks. Unfortunately, it seems that neither side is willing to commit to a lasting solution. The deadline for ceasefires continues to be pushed back as both sides are constantly breaking agreements. What exists in South Sudan is an absence of desire for a lasting solution. Yet, the international community cannot give up hope for this new nation. The efforts to aid South Sudan must be amplified immensely, and the sanctions need to be made more serious. As witnesses to these atrocities, we cannot allow what is happening to be swept under the rug. The United Nations has said human rights violations are evident and present, so what more proof do we need that South Sudan needs our help? The newest deadline has been set for March 5, 2015, and it is the hope that it is one that will produce a peaceful solution. The global community needs to embrace South Sudan and stop it’s internal destruction and relieve those who want nothing more than to feel safe again.

-Genny