South Sudan: The world's youngest country sinks into chaos
What began as a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, developed into a bloody conflict in which ethnicity played a growing role.
Destroyed homes
For over a month,former Vice-President Riek Machar, together with his rebel army, fought against the government in a war that, according to UN estimates, has claimed over 10,000 lives. Many villages were completely burned down. All that this inhabitant of the town of Bentiu has left fits into a single plastic bag.
Soldiers against former comrades
The South Sudanese SPLA army recently re-conquered several important cities which were occupied by the rebels.The soldiers often fought against former comrades. In mid-December some government soldiers turned against President Salva Kiir and joined rebel leader Machar.
From enemy to ally
To win the fight against the rebels, the government also joined forces with controversial militia leaders, such as David Yau Yau, whose army fought against the government for years. Until a few months ago, the government of South Sudan wanted to indict Yau Yau for war crimes. His army includes children. According to Yau Yau, that is "normal in South Sudan's conflicts."
The last rebel stronghold
Along with their new allies, the government troops launched an offensive to retake Malakal - the last major city in rebel hands. "Riek Machar's troops are leading young people astray. They are recruiting 16 -year-old boys," said Simon Kun Puoch, the governor of Upper Nile state. He fears that the fighting will push back the country's development by several years.
Violence as the only option?
Peter Adwok Nyaba lost a leg in the war for independence. Since President Kiir dissolved the cabinet in July 2013, the former minister sympathizes with the insurgents. "In South Sudan the army is considered to be the only force that can achieve goals," Nyaba said. "Even the president believes he can only solve the conflict between himself and his colleagues by military means."
A political solution
"We know that the military are not the only solution to the conflict," said army spokesman Philip Aguer. South Sudan is stuck in a political crisis that has to be resolved politically. "It is sad that some politicians try to divide the army and the South Sudanese people in order to achieve their goals."
A divided nation
Both sides negotiated unsuccessfully for several weeks. By this time the crisis had turned into an ethnic conflict - even in the army. Presidential envoy Akot Arech visited a barracks in which 200 soldiers of different ethnic groups had killed each other. "It is unbelievable," the visibly shocked politician said. "How are we supposed to rebuild our country?"
On the run
Even in United Nations refugee camps, the various ethnic groups are mostly housed separately. There were repeated clashes between the Dinka, the president's ethnic group, and the Nuer, to which rebel leader Machar belongs. Targeted attacks in the capital Juba forced 20,000 Nuer people to flee to what is now a hopelessly overcrowded UN Camp at Tonping.
Fear of fresh attacks
Teacher Isaac Maet, together with his wife, has been living at the camp for a month. He is afraid of fresh attacks. He has little hope of being able to return soon to his work as a teacher. "If it was only a political conflict, a solution could be found," said Maet. "But it has turned into an ethnic conflict which will certainly take much longer to bring to an end."