The Brewing Storm in South Sudan: Deliberate Discord?
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Amidst the political labyrinth of South Sudan, an opposition lawmaker has raised a grave concern. On a recent Sunday, a soft whisper became a thunderous accusation when President Salva Kiir’s government was accused of laying the groundwork for an impending “genocide.” At the center of this storm is the Nuer community, which some allege is being targeted merely for being aligned with Riek Machar, the opposition leader.
The apprehension shrouding this claim traces back to months of violent skirmishes, casting long, dark shadows over the nation. These clashes, between forces loyal to President Kiir and those standing with Machar—who was controversially arrested in March—stir fears that South Sudan is teetering on the brink of yet another civil conflict.
Earlier febrile tensions in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have seen Kiir’s allies pointing fingers at Machar’s supporters, accusing them of kindling unrest. Adding fuel to the fire is the White Army, a militia composed of armed Nuer youths. Could this be a calculated maneuver, or mere survival strategy in a volatile landscape? As William Shakespeare once said, “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
“The Nuer ethnic group, a linchpin in our liberation struggle,” proclaimed a recent government statement. Yet, within its words lay a chilling revelation: their territories, spanning 16 counties, nine of which are now labeled ‘hostile.'” Only one question arises—who benefits from this dangerous labeling?
Nasir County, among these “hostile” territories, is witnessing a tempest of discontent. Reath Muoch Tang, a leading figure in Machar’s party, passionately declared, “This reckless designation is nothing short of a calculated prelude to genocide against the Nuer community.”
Tang’s warning is a striking echo of history’s dark chapters—attempts to justify collective punishment and incite violence. Is this a mere political stratagem, or a malignant plot to fracture societal bonds under the guise of security?
In a statement filled with gravitas, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, acting chairman of Machar’s party, revisits haunting memories. A 2014 African Union report remains an indelible scar, documenting how “male Nuers were identified, isolated, and extinguished at roadblocks and within their homes.”
Pierino stands resolute, fiercely condemning what he terms as ethnic profiling and cleansing, threatening to bring these heinous allegations to the steps of the International Criminal Court (ICC). His words are a beacon for action: “We will not stand idle while our kin are targeted.”
The Fractured Power-Sharing Agreement
Ongoing clashes, particularly near Nasir, have further frayed the delicate threads of Kiir and Machar’s 2018 power-sharing agreement. The agreement once sealed a fragile peace in a nation scarred by civil war, which claimed over 400,000 lives. Yet now, these remnants of tranquility appear to teeter precariously on the edge of an abyss.
In early March, a military encampment in Nasir fell like a house of cards to a sweeping assault by an estimated 6,000 White Army fighters. Among the fallen was a high-ranking general, adding a somber tone to the carnage.
The government claims to have reclaimed Nasir and Ulang with Ugandan support, following an attack that reportedly killed 400 armed personnel. Yet, since March, at least 200 lives have been extinguished amidst violence, leaving a trail of displaced souls—125,000 and counting, according to United Nations reports.
Ever since South Sudan’s 2011 independence, instability has been its unwelcome companion. The years between 2013 and 2018 were marked by devastating conflicts between Machar’s supporters and President Kiir’s Dinka group, the two largest ethnic factions in this eclectic tapestry of nations.
President Kiir continues his attempts to marginalize Machar, who now finds himself under house arrest. Still, in this ever-evolving chess game of power, pieces keep shifting. On a recent Saturday, the government mulled over a “plan of action” aimed at resurrecting the stricken peace agreement. The move could unseat Machar, media outlets suggest, by cherry-picking opposition factions deemed legitimate.
Pierino, steadfast in his resolve, declares: “Any attempt to dismantle the existing transitional structure shall be met with unwavering resistance.” But here lies a potent question: is resistance enough to weave a future where peace and unity prevail?
