War and Conflict Journal

Southern Sudan erupted in more violence this week as more than 170 people died in ethnic battles  This latest round of the back and forth violence in Jonglei state. Approximately 12 villages were burned down and thousands of people were forced to flee by the violence. The incident is only the latest in a series of violent ethnic confrontations in the area.

This latest attack was in retaliation for a raid by the Nuer ethnic group in March, 2009 on villages inhabited by the Murle  ethnic group in Pibor Country.  That fighting killed between 450 and 750 people. Both groups traditionally conduct cattle raids on each other, but the level of violence is much greater than in the past.

United Nations officials believe the large amounts of modern weaponry left over from the decades-long Sudanese Civil War, which ended in 2005 are helping to fuel the bloodshed.  Sudan has other problems of course, with the long-running Darfur conflict, ongoing hostility with neighboring Chad, and the possibility that the peace deal between South Sudan and the central government may be in jeopardy.  And of course, the Sudanese leader, President Bashir, is facing indictment as a war criminal…