FAQ: Crisis in South Sudan
Is the world's newest nation on the brink of a civil war?
1 / 27
Violence in South Sudan: A Timeline - On April 30, Secretary of State John Kerry embarked on a week-long trip to Africa to find a way to end the ongoing violence in South Sudan that has displaced more than a million people and threatens to tear the country apart. Can the world’s newest nation avoid a civil war? — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)
2 / 27
Years of Warfare Leave Little Hope for Peace - South Sudan and Sudan have endured more than half a century of guerrilla warfare. Once Sudan gained its independence from British rule, the south accused the North of backing out on promises to create a federal system, which ignited decades of civil war. As a result, at least 1.5 million have died and more than four million have been displaced.(Photo: John Downing/Getty Images)
3 / 27
The Birth of a New Nation - South Sudan is a land-locked nation bordered by Sudan, Central African Republic, Kenya and Ethiopia. It gained its independence from the Republic of Sudan in 2011 after years of resistance. The oil rich country is highly diverse in language and ethnicity, with the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk among the larger ethnic groups.(Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Landov)
4 / 27
A Shaky Foundation Paves the Way for Future Downfall - Although it was a time to rejoice, many feared South Sudan was ill-prepared to stand on its own as it is one of the poorest and least developed places on earth. Additionally, there was still unresolved conflict with the North, issues delegating power among ethnic military groups and challenges diversifying the oil-based economy.(Photo: Thomas Mukoya/Landov)
5 / 27
An Attempted Coup - South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, the largest tribe, announced a failed coup d'etat attempt near the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) headquarters in Juba on Dec. 15. The coup was said to be led by soldiers loyal to Kiir's former deputy, ex-vice president Riek Machar, a Nuer, the second largest tribe of 500 in South Sudan. (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
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6 / 27
Curfew Imposed - Following the attack on the SPLA, Kiir declared an overnight curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day for South Sudanese civilians.(Photo: AP Photo South Sudan TV)
7 / 27
From Failed Coup to Nationwide Violence - Although violence began in Juba more than 10 days ago, it has spread rapidly to half of the country’s 10 states and to more than 20 cities and towns nationwide.(Photo: REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic)
8 / 27
Kiir vs. Machar - A year before the recent fighting, Machar said, “We don’t want to start a new state with a rebellion.” Kiir fired Machar in July. Following the coup, some arrests were made, but Machar’s spokesperson denied that he was in custody or had any involvement in the attempted coup d'etat.(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)
9 / 27
Parties Divided - When Machar and other members of the government were purged from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Kiir’s ruling government party, they accused Kiir of “dictatorial tendencies.” The recent coup only added to political tensions between Machar and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.(Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
10 / 27
Machar on the Run - According to Kiir, Machar, currently on the run, is his prime suspect and there is an arrest warrant out for him. Machar responded to Kiir’s allegations by describing him as illegitimate and called for the ruling party and army to depose him.(Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
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11 / 27
Dinka vs. Nuer: A History of Bloodshed? - Following a power struggle among the southern rebels in 1991, Machar broke away from Kiir and his deputy, John Garang. He also severed ties with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and allied his Nuer militia with the North.(Photo: AP Photo/UNMISS, Anna Adhikari)
12 / 27
Ethnic Cleansing? - While Kiir insists that the fighting is strictly politics driven, many of the more than 45,000 civilians seeking refuge on U.N. camps say they are being targeted based on their ethnicities. More than 500 people have died since Dec. 15 and thousands are displaced. Additionally, officials say that various Nuer allies are siding with Machar while Dinka are loyal to Kiir. (Photo: AP Photo/UNMISS/Rolla Hinedi)
13 / 27
What Is the Reason Behind the Violence? - Violence in South Sudan erupted because of a political power struggle, which transitioned to ethnic rivalry. Machar accused Kiir of forming a “Dinkocracy,” while Kiir and his supporters insist that Machar, a Nuer, will do anything to get to the top. Machar announced that he would run for president in 2015.(Photo: AP Photo/UNMISS, Anna Adhikari)
14 / 27
Nobody’s Safe - The fear of an impending civil war has forced thousands of South Sudanese in at least three states — Juba, Nile River and Unity — to seek refuge in the United Nations Missions camps across the nation. The U.S. has evacuated about 380 Americans and 300 third-country citizens from South Sudan since last week.(Photo: AP Photo/UNMISS, Irene Scott)
15 / 27
U.S. Marines Sent to Evacuate More Americans - After rebels attacked an evacuation aircraft on Dec. 21, injuring four United Nations soldiers, about 150 U.S. Marines flew from Spain to Djibouti then to Uganda. The U.S. military's Africa Command said on Dec. 23 that it was positioning the Marines to respond to violence while they assist with the evacuations. About a couple hundred Americans are still in South Sudan.(Photo: AP Photo/WFP, George Fominyen)
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16 / 27
Mass Graves and More U.N. Troops - After a United Nations human rights group discovered at least three mass graves, with one containing 75 bodies in a rebel-held town of Bentiu on Dec. 24, the United Nations Security Council decided to send 5,500 more troops to South Sudan to ensure the protection of civilians. The UN previously deployed 6,700 troops and 670 police officers to South Sudan.(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)
17 / 27
Weeks of Violence Affects the Economy - South Sudan is an oil-rich nation, with oil accounting for 98 percent of government revenue. South Sudan Petroleum Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said on Dec. 24 that oil production had fallen by 45,000 barrels per day to 200,000 bpd after Unity state oilfields shut down due to the violence.(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)
18 / 27
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Delivers a Christmas Message - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a radio/video message to the South Sudanese people on Christmas day saying that the U.N. was standing with them during this time. "We are strengthening the United Nations presence and will do our best to stop the violence and help you build a better future for all," Ban said.(Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
19 / 27
European Union Gets Involved - European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced via Twitter on Dec. 25 that she was sending special envoy Alexander Rondos to South Sudan to support a political solution to the conflict.(Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
20 / 27
Neighboring African Nations Join Forces to Mediate Tensions - Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Juba on Dec. 26 to help mediate tensions as well. They met with president Kiir and other officials to discuss meeting with Machar to put an end to the alleged revolt.(Photo: AP Photo/Kenyan Presidential Press Service)
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21 / 27
Ceasefire Signed - After talks held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, South Sudan’s government and rebels signed on Jan. 23 a ceasefire agreement that required fighting to come to and end within 24 hours. Yet, the agreement was violated several times over the following weeks, with both sides accusing the other of breaking the deal. Despite further talks in February, the violence continued. (Photos from left: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages, REUTERS/James Akena)
22 / 27
Kicked Out - According to Feb. 11 reports, former vice president Machar was charged with treason and removed from his position of first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party. Taban Deng Gai and Alfred Lado Gore, both members of the party’s governing NLC body, were also dismissed on similar charges. (Photo: REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic)
23 / 27
A Slaughter in Bentiu - The U.N. reported that rebels slaughtered hundreds of people, both civilian and military, in the oil rich Unity State capital Bentiu, based on their ethnic origins and nationality. The fighting took place between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition forces mid-April. “Accounts of the attacks shock the conscience,” said a White House statement.(Photo: REUTERS/Emre Rende)
24 / 27
Sanctions and Peace Talks - Kerry's stops include Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The U.S. is considering sanctions on people provoking unrest, he said. On May 1, he also met with foreign ministers from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, all of whom agreed on the need for a peacekeeping force.(Photo: AP Photo)
25 / 27
Famine Fears - Humanitarian agencies expressed their fears of an imminent famine in South Sudan as a result of the more than 1 million people who have fled their homes at a crucial time: planting season. UNICEF also warned on May 1 that up to 50,000 children could die of malnutrition in 2014. (Photo: AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
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26 / 27
Sudanese-Americans Fear the Worst - Thousands of Sudanese refugees fled to the country in the late '80s and early '90s during the civil war, and the idea that it could be happening again less than 20 years later is frightening. Many refugees ended up in the United States, with about 30,000 — more than a third of America’s Sudanese population — relocating to Omaha, Nebraska.(Photo: Thomas Mukoya/Landov)