Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites 2013–2016

Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites - 15
Over the following month, the three state capitals in
Greater Upper Nile –which comprises Unity, Upper Nile,
and Jonglei states– changed hands multiple times as
both warring parties struggled to consolidate their control
of the cities. When the cities changed hands, the ethnic
makeup of the displaced persons seeking protection
in the UNMISS bases would also change. Individuals
with sufficient means and/or connections went to Juba
or neighbouring countries. The remaining IDPs had the
choice of either staying in the PoC site or walking long
distances to areas perceived as more stable within South
Sudan or across international borders to neighbouring
countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
Since the 2013 conflict broke out, tens of thousands of
people have been killed. As has been the case during
decades of warfare in South Sudan, political violence is
primarily directed at civilians perceived to be sympathizers
of the opposing side. Both parties to the conflict have been
accused of carrying out gross human rights violations,
including summary executions, abductions, torture
and rape of civilians. 5 A recent UN report accuses the
government of having “adopted scorched-earth tactics,
burning entire villages, killing their inhabitants, destroying
crops and looting livestock.” 6 The targeting of civilians
has led to major displacement, forcing at least 2.3 million
people to flee their homes. Even prior to the outbreak of
the third civil war, large parts of the country were food
insecure and in need of support. As of September 2015,
a third of the population in South Sudan was encountering
severe food insecurity. 7
A peace agreement signed by both parties in August
2015 has made intermittent progress, but continues
to face significant setbacks. Southern Unity continues
to be severely affected by armed violence and the
persecution of civilians perceived to be loyal to the rebel
forces. Meanwhile, new areas of conflict have erupted in
historically stable parts of the country, such as Western
Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states. The
unilateral decision to create 28 states by President Kiir
has been rejected by the SPLA-IO, who insists that the
decision is interfering with the peace agreement. Analysts
and observers fear the peace agreement could fall apart
entirely. 8 It is within this context that the stability of the
PoC sites continues to be of great importance.
2
3
First civil war: 1955–1972, Second civil war: 1983–2005; and the Third civil war: 2013
– (?). Although the first civil war, according to the official discourse, began in 1955
with the Torit Mutiny, Anyanya I did not emerge until 1963, bringing the country into
full-scale civil war. The second civil war began in 1983 with the Bor Mutiny, however,
the Anyanya II rebellions started several years earlier. See: D. Johnson The Root Causes
of Sudan's Civil Wars (Oxford, James Currey, 2003).
Human Rights Watch (HRW), South Sudan’s New War: Abuses by Government and
Opposition Forces (2014); International Crisis Group, South Sudan: A Civil War by Any
Other Name, Africa Report N°21 (Brussels 2014).
4
5
6
7
8
UNMISS Issues Preliminary Account of Akobo Base Attack, 20 December 2013.
HRW. 2014; International Crisis Group, 2014.
N. Cumming-Bruce, “U.N. Finds South Sudan Increasingly in Turmoil,” New York Times,
21 January 2016.
“Call for immediate humanitarian action to prevent famine in South Sudan.”, IPC Alert,
Issue 3, p. 22, October 2015, Juba.
A. Sperber, “South Sudan’s Next Civil War is Starting,” Foreign Policy online, 22
January 2016.
• Merger between
Anyanya II and
SPLM/A.
• Split of SPLM/A
between Riek Machar
and John Garang
and ensuing factional
warfare. Both factions
committed grave
atrocities against
civilians, including in Bor
(“Bor massacre”).
• Khartoum Peace
Agreement signed
between the Sudanese
government (NCP)
and a number of rebel
movements, including
Riek Machar’s SSIM.
• Riek Machar
withdraws from
Khartoum Peace
Agreement.
• Riek Machar and John
Garang sign the Nairobi
Declaration on Unity and
Integration.
• 2002–2005 Khartoum
and SPLM discuss peace.
• Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) signed.
• John Garang dies in
helicopter crash.
• Juba declaration provides
a path for the integration
of former militias (SSDF)
into SPLA.
• South Sudan’s
independence.
• April. Riek Machar
relieved of Vice
Presidential duties.
• July. Entire cabinet fired.
• December. New civil
war erupts in Juba. Nuer
civilians killed.
Nuer civilians retaliate for
Juba by killing Dinka in
UNMISS Akobo base.
• January. First ceasefire
signed in Addis Ababa.
• April. UNMISS Bor POC
attacked by Dinka youth.
47 killed.
• May. US Secretary of
State, John Kerry, visits
South Sudan. Warns
GoSS and Rebels to avert
genocide.
• May. UN Secretary
General, Ban Ki Moon,
visits South Sudan. Talks to
leaders and urges them to
work together.
• May. Second ceasefire
signed in Addis Ababa.
• February. Third ceasefire
signed in Addis Ababa.
• August. Fourth ceasefire
signed by Machar in
Addis Ababa and two
weeks later by Kiir in
Juba.
• October. President Kiir
calls for establishment
order number 36/2015
for the creation of 28
States.
• December. Appointment
of 28 new Governors.
• February.
Fighting breaks
out in Malakal
PoC followed by
an attack on the
site. 19 killed.
• February.
UN Secretary
General, Ban
Ki Moon, visits
South Sudan.
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