Case Study: South Sudan

 

On July 9th, 2011, South Sudan gained its long-awaited independence from Sudan and became the world’s youngest nation. Since then, the country has faced turmoil with a 7-year civil war between the government forces of President Salva Kiir and the armed opposition group Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition led by Riek Machar, as well as other armed groups (Aufiero and Pur). The civil war broke out in December 2013 due to a power struggle between the political elite who manipulated ethnic divisions and grievances. The warring parties arranged a peace deal in 2018 and formed the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2020, including members of both warring parties in the new government (Aufiero and Pur). While related violence has declined somewhat, the peace deal did not address the root causes of the war, and violence between the communities remains high due to the continued human rights abuses. 

Over 60 ethnic groups are present in South Sudan. Ethnic conflicts as it relates to Africa as a whole are not a new phenomenon. Much of Africa is multi-ethnic and most of the conflict that has occurred is said to have been rooted in ethnic differences. Despite the fact that more than 60 ethnic groups make up South Sudan, the main inter-ethnic rivalries occur between two major ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer, with occasional uprisings from the Murle. The Dinka ethnic group support supports Kiir’s government forces, whereas the Neur people support Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition. Both major players have used ethnic grievances to justify and fuel the violence they commit. 

The South Sudanese government continued to abuse human rights by limiting free speech and the spread of information during the war, resulting in journalists and activists being attacked and detained. When protests erupted over the killing of civilians, soldiers and police shot at protesters, adding to the violence (Aufiero and Pur). The conflict has resulted in a devastating famine as violence ensues over spillover grievances from the war and competition for farming resources including land and cattle, and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or displaced in the conflict. Approximately 8 million people are currently facing hunger or famine conditions, and South Sudan relies heavily on aid support that has not been received due to the conflict and donor countries’ mistrust of the government (Aufiero and Pur). The South Sudanese government has failed to invest in infrastructure and essential services like education and healthcare. Over 4.8 million children are out of school due to a lack of educational access, as ⅓ of the schools are damaged or destroyed due to attacks and hostages by armed forces. For girls, access to education is further hindered by poverty, violence, child marriage, and cultural biases (Aufiero and Pur).

With the ongoing conflict, there has been a surge in sexual violence and human rights violations against South Sudanese women as they are used as the ‘spoils of war’ according to Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the UN Commission (UN News). South Sudanese men regard the female body as ‘territory’ to be owned, controlled, or exploited. In April 2015, South Sudan’s government initiated a military campaign in Unity State to recapture territory held by rebels, which resulted in scores of women being subjected to rape, including gang rapes, which have become so common that is a “just a normal thing,” according to the women in South Sudan (Muscati). These attacks are not random incidents but rather involve armed soldiers actively hunting down women and girls during systematic attacks on villages. Women have been forced to watch their family members get raped in front of them (Muscati). As a result of the rape, survivors have been contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. If they become pregnant, women are abandoned by their husbands and families (UN News). In addition to rape, women of all ages, including the elderly, have been battered with ropes or sticks. Even pregnant women have been subjected to violence, up to the point of miscarriage (Muscati). Women and girls have been abducted, with armed forces kidnapping them as ‘wives’ or slaves as they are forced to carry looted goods away from their villages on journeys over multiple days; they have also been forced to cook and beaten by the fighters as they do so. Many women are still held in captivity with unknown whereabouts. While UN refugee camps have been established for 30,000 female refugees, women and girls remain at risk of sexual violence in the camp, especially when collecting water or using unlit latrines (Muscati).

In addition to the sexual violence, cultural biases against women have affected how they are treated in South Sudan. South Sudan currently has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, and ½ of the women are married off before they reach 18 (UN News). Once married, they effectively lose control over any decision-making as their husbands are given the responsibility of the head of the household. The current food insecurity and malnutrition affect women more than men due to their ascribed status as caregivers; they are less prioritized when food is served and often do not have a chance to eat (UN News). Sexual and gender violence is common outside of the conflict and affects women and girls at all levels of society due to the patriarchal system in South Sudan.