South Sudan: A Nation in Trouble

Authors

  • Nasir M. Ali Researcher & student at the Center for African and Oriental Studies Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Keywords:

South Sudan, trouble, ethnic rivalry, power struggle, consensus, compromise, dichotomies

Abstract

This study pragmatically examines the root cause of the crisis that erupted in South Sudan and how a once the euphoria of the public was betrayed by the tragic vision of its politicians. The study explains at least three major dichotomies that oppose each other and have an important role to play in escalating the ethnic rivalries and confrontations in the region. These are: a) heterogeneous opposing ethnic groups of the state, b) the regional actors, and, c) the international actors with particular emphasis the Western countries who were the midwives of South Sudan for one hand, and the Chinese whom engaged Sudan’s conventional resources since its exploration and exploitation for the other. The study argues that the political disagreement between the president, Salva Kiir  from the largest ethnic group, the Dinka, and his rival, former vice president Riek Machar from Nuer, who makes up the second most populous ethnic group in the region, has both ethnic and political roots. The study regards the politics of consensus and compromise with the grassroots engagement and the regional conflict resolution mechanism, the IGAD, not only as a way forward, but also as a lasting solution to the crisis that may polarize to the other parts of the region.

 

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Published

2014-04-15

How to Cite

Ali, N. M. (2014). South Sudan: A Nation in Trouble. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(2). Retrieved from https://www.ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/1149

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2014): April 2014

Section

Articles

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