Blog 10: Group of South Sudanese Youths Open Fire on Civilians

Summary:
Since mid-December, South Sudan has been locked in a bloody conflict that has political and ethnic roots. South Sudan is the world's youngest country, gaining independence on July 9, 2011, after longtime conflicts between the Sudanese government and opposing forces in the south. The years since then have been filled with uncertainty; political rivals Salva Kier (an ethnic Dinka) and Riek Machar (an ethnic Nuer) have struggled for the upper hand in the government (and are now struggling for control of the country's oil resources). Kier became the president and Machar the Vice President. President Kier fired Machar with the rest of his cabinet in July 2013, and in December of 2013, gunfire broke out between the forces loyal to both men. After that night the violence spread, and thousands of people have been killed, and the UN has scrambled to provide accommodation for the many thousands of people seeking shelter in their compounds. Currently over a million people have fled their homes to find safety, many in other countries. Just the other day, a group of armed youths dressed in civilian clothing broke into the UN base in the town of Bor and started firing indiscriminately. Reports say that dozens of civilians were killed before the UN peacekeepers were able to repel the attackers by returning fire. The UN has increased its vigilance and says that it will do whatever it needs to do to protect those who simply want to stay alive.

Analysis:
We can analyze the South Sudanese conflict in terms of its harmful effects as well as its helpful effects. First, its harmful effects are obvious. The conflict is causing violence, mass killings and displacement, a clear division of ethnic groups (the Dinka and the Nuer), and fear and hatred among all in the country. However, the situation might have some helpful effects, although not as obvious as its harmful ones. Examples of helpful effects of a conflict include promoting unity within conflicting groups, giving attention to a problem that needs to be resolved, and possibly moving a group or civilization on its road of development (i.e., conflict can change one's position, status, authority, etc., and sometimes for the better). Within-group unity may not be as applicable to the South Sudanese conflict, because identifying more closely with one's ethnic group may just lead to more violence; intergroup unity is what is needed. However, the hostility does highlight some problems that need to be resolved in South Sudan: perhaps a greater national unity as opposed to a tribal-ethnic one (as was the problem in Rwanda), and the need for changes in the political realm. Hopefully the country will emerge from this struggle wiser and better able to handle the future challenges that come its way.

Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/24/politics/south-sudan-explainer/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27074635

http://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Conflict.php