History and Background
From 1955 to 1972, the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army started a civil war that lasted for 17 years. The civil war was caused by the conflict between northern Sudan and southern Sudan who demanded regional autonomy. Southern Sudan is occupied by mostly Christians and Animists while Northern Sudan is occupied by mostly Muslim Arabs. After the British failed to ensure equity in government representation for the Southern African-Christians, the Arab-led government promised to create a system of government in which both North and South would be represented. However, they did not keep their promises, which led to a rebellion. In the summer of 1955, the Southerners attacked the Sudanese government officials. Many fled into the woods with weapons and created rebel groups. It is known as the Sudanese First Civil War and was followed by the Second Sudanese Civil War which lasted for 22 years, the longest civil war recorded. Present In 2005, a peace agreement was made that ended decades of civil war. In 2011, South Sudan gained its independence. However, decades of violence followed by fragile peace agreements means that conflicts still remain and continue. Ongoing conflicts include struggle for territory rights, border separation, sharing of debt, oil incomes and the use of the North's pipeline (the South Sudan failed to agree to an agreement with the North). Fights in South Kordofan, the Blue Nile and Abyei threatens peace. There are more problems than tensions along the border that are less dramatic but more damaging: poverty, lack of medical care and infrastructure, and a poor functioning economy. South Sudan Soldiers in South Sudan say they are exhausted. Many have spent their lifetime fighting in the grassy plain or either side of the Upper Nile. Their country won independence on 2011 after decades of war with the north. But South Sudan's own continual divisions broke out in civil war a year ago caused by a coup that shattered the peace of the world's youngest country. It is not a surprise that government troops, rebel soldiers, and ragtag tribal militias are exhausted. But not enough to stop fighting. Government troops have spent the last few months training and ordering new supplies. Tanks, artillery, and armoured personnel carriers are set to range back and forth in the capital, Juba. Possible Future Scenario and Course of Actions Currently, the condition at South Sudan kept going downhill with the war still going on. Scarce resources all over South Sudan are slowly wasted and could be depleted in as short as a couple of years. With none of the parties co-operating, it is possible in the future for more neighbouring countries to support one another which cause even more killing and using up even more resources. As intense as the fighting already is, a larger aggravation can lead to bombing attacks or even a small scale nuclear war. At first the most obvious answer to the conflict is to donate resources to South Sudan, but that has a lot of complications as that could extend the war. Large nations are already threatening both sides to stop fighting or they won't supply them anymore firearms, but it is not enough. What they need is a reason to stop. Both sides believe they are only self-defending, so people need to convince them that the war is truly over, and not a sneak attack plan. With women and children displaced and thousands of citizens fell victim to the war, it seems unclear why South Sudan kept fighting over the years if their plan is to limit casualties. |
Effects of Conflict
The civil war itself has already caused half a million people dead and it is still increasing, while more people flees the country. With the death toll increasing and funds used up to invest in the war, South Sudan is at a financial crisis leading to inflation rates by 75%. Even with its riches in oil used as 98.1% of all the income was cut from them because a deal disagreement with the north's pipeline system and facilities |