The article details the complex political landscape of South Sudan following its independence in 2011 and the subsequent civil war that erupted in December 2013. The conflict is largely framed as an ethnic power struggle between President Salva Kiir, representing the Dinka ethnic group, and his former deputy, Riek Machar. Machar leads the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), which emerged after the massacres of Nuer civilians in Juba in 2013 and draws its support primarily from the Nuer community. Kiir’s support base consists heavily of Dinka fighters. These fighters have historically served as the backbone of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and, after independence, the national army.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/09/23/fqbq-s23.html