Sudan and South Sudan have been known for violence and conflicts in past years, and even today, these countries have not fully stabilized to build strong and peaceful nations.
The tribes of South Sudan contribute to these conflicts, but it should be noted that opposition groups often use tribal raids and wars to create political tension in the country.
This is why raiders are often found with a large number of military weapons, such as AK-47 rifles and bombs.
The Dinka tribe makes up 35% of the population and is the largest ethnic group, while the Nuer tribe is the second-largest. Both groups often fight over cattle and grazing land, leading to massive killings.
Major Tribal Conflicts in South Sudan
Murle-Nuer Conflict (August 8, 2011, Uror County, Jonglei State)
On August 8, 2011, a violent conflict broke out in Uror County, northern Jonglei. The Murle tribe launched an attack on the Luo Nuer in revenge for a previous attack.
In this revenge mission, over 340,000 houses were burned, 640 people were killed, and many others were hospitalized. The Murle also stole cattle and kidnapped over 208 children.
In response, the Nuer White Army declared on December 25, 2011, that they would wipe out the entire Murle tribe.
However, The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) deployed peacekeepers to prevent an attack by the Nuer youth.
2017 Gambela Raid
In 2017, the Murle attacked and raided the Gambela region in Ethiopia, where they abducted 43 children.
2020 Uror County Massacre
In 2020, a massacre occurred in Uror County, where over 200 women and children were abducted, and 287 people were killed.
Dinka-Nuer Conflict
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was formed in 1999 as a Nuer-dominated faction during the civil war. This war caused more deaths among South Sudanese than among northern Sudanese.
Some of the most notorious massacres include:
- Bor Massacre – Over 2,000 civilians were killed, and another 25,000 people died from famine.
- Bentiu Massacre
- Mapel Massacre (2014)
Murle-Dinka Conflict
The Murle-Dinka conflict dates back to the struggle for independence, but tensions continued afterward.
For example:
- Jonglei-Boma Conflict – A conflict between the Dinka from Jonglei State and the Nuer from Boma State. Although a peace agreement was signed, conflicts continued.
- Attack on Duk Payuel County, Jonglei – The Dinka village in Duk Payuel County was attacked, leaving 45 people dead and 60 women and children abducted.
Shilluk-Dinka Conflict
This conflict arose due to claims that Dinka and Nuer soldiers disarmed the Shilluk people in the summer of 2010. During this period, villages were burned down, hundreds of women and girls were raped, and many people were killed in the Shilluk Kingdom.
In response, the Shilluk people fought back, but peace talks were later held to prevent further deaths.
Other Conflicts in South Sudan
Other tribal wars that followed include:
- Fertit-Jur-Dinka Conflict
- Equatorian-Dinka Conflict
- Dinka-Arab Conflict
- Intra-Dinka Conflict (conflicts among different Dinka groups)
- Intra-Nuer Conflict (conflicts among different Nuer groups)
These conflicts have caused great suffering in South Sudan, and peace efforts are still ongoing.
