How instability persists in South Sudan

DW (English)

We look at why South Sudan, which declared independence to avoid conflict with its northern neighbor Sudan now finds itself facing another war. Why have leaders failed to ensure lasting peace at the expense of civilians?

Transcript

00:00In 2011, South Sudan voted to secede from Sudan, choosing independence after decades

00:06of war.

00:07With newfound oil wealth, things looked optimistic for South Sudan.

00:11So, how is it that the world's youngest country is again teetering on the brink of

00:16war in 2025?

00:18This is the flip side.

00:20Let's first look at the country's rival leaders, President Salva Kiir and Vice President

00:25Riek Machar.

00:26They have outwardly promised peace, but have also used fear of mass violence along ethnic

00:31lines to keep South Sudanese on tenterhooks and democracy at bay.

00:42After the first civil war between 2013 and 2020, key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement

00:49between Kiir and Machar remain unimplemented.

00:53There is no constitution acceptable to all parties, armed forces have not been unified,

00:59and voter registration has also not been renewed.

01:09So why has the situation worsened now?

01:12A catalyst is the civil war that has been raging in neighboring Sudan since 2023.

01:18A major oil pipeline runs through Sudan, and South Sudanese leaders in Juba can no

01:23longer benefit from oil revenues.

01:39More specifically, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar can no longer rely on oil money to buy the

01:44loyalty of the various armed groups in South Sudan, and thus strengthen their power.

02:03And so we must ask, how does this all end?

02:07I do think the international community will coalesce a bit around sending messages to

02:13them discreetly and also publicly to stop.

02:19The situation could trigger a much wider regional conflict, and I think that is the risk.

02:26Political instability in South Sudan has so far emboldened a violent rush to control resources,

02:31and again shown how South Sudanese civilians are beholden to the whims of their aging leaders.

02:37But some argue this could become a pivotal moment for the state.

02:41It can also lead, maybe, if it's channeled correctly, to conversations about, you know,

02:50state building and social contract, because that's what this is all about, right?

02:56What is the state supposed to provide for me, and why am I a part of this state?

02:59And countries like South Sudan were put together in opposition to something, but what is the

03:04country about?

03:05And that's a conversation that needs to be had, right?

03:08You know, what do we believe in?

03:10Consider this.

03:11The average age of South Sudanese citizens is just 18 and a half years old, and most

03:17have only known a few years of peace.

03:20I wish Biden to provide for us a permanent peace, peace that we can move across the South

03:26Sudan without any attack, without any fight.

03:29They should always have reconciliation among themselves, because we have come from far,

03:36from war, and where we are today, all we wish for is peace in the country.

03:40There is a desire to move away from ethnic quarrel and political infighting over resources.

03:47I'll be like, we should leave this issue of tribalism, where I'll be like, because this

03:51political party is from my tribe or this person is from my tribe, I should support him.

03:57If he's wrong or right, this is not what we want as a South Sudanese.

04:00And that's the flip side.

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