South Sudanese Civil War
2013 CE to 2020 CE
The South Sudanese Civil War (December 15, 2013 – February 22 , 2020) is a conflict in South Sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces.
In December 2013, President Kiir accuses his former deputy Riek Machar and ten others of attempting a coup d'état.
Machar denies trying to start a coup and flees to lead the SPLM—in opposition (SPLM-IO).
Fighting breaks out between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and SPLM-IO, igniting the civil war.
Ugandan troops are deployed to fight alongside the South Sudanese government.
The United Nations has peacekeepers in the country as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
In January 2014 the first ceasefire agreement is reached.
Fighting continues and will be followed by several more ceasefire agreements.
Negotiations are mediated by "IGAD +" (which includes the eight regional nations called the Intergovernmental Authority on Development as well as the African Union, United Nations, China, the EU, USA, UK and Norway).
A peace agreement known as the "Compromise Peace Agreement" is signed in August 2015.
Machar returns to Juba in 2016 and is appointed vice president.
Following a second breakout of fighting within Juba, the SPLM-IO flees to the surrounding and previously peaceful Equatoria region.
Kiir replaces Machar as First Vice President with Taban Deng Gai, splitting the opposition, and rebel in-fighting becomes a major part of the conflict.
Rivalry among Dinka factions led by the President and Paul Malong Awan also lead to fighting.
About four hundred thousand people are estimated to have been killed in the war by April 2018, including notable atrocities such as the 2014 Bentiu massacre.
Although both men have supporters from across South Sudan's ethnic divides, subsequent fighting has ethnic undertones.
Kiir's Dinka ethnic group has been accused of attacking other ethnic groups and Machar's Nuer ethnic group has been accused of attacking the Dinka.
More than four million people have been displaced, with about one million eight hundred thousand of those internally displaced, and about two-and-a half million having fled to neighboring countries, especially Uganda and Sudan.
Fighting in the agricultural heartland in the south of the country causes the number of people facing starvation to soar to six million, causing famine in 2017 in some areas.
The country’s economy has also been devastated.
According to the IMF in October 2017, real income has halved since 2013 and inflation is more than three hundred percent per annum.
In August 2018, another power sharing agreement comes into effect.
On February 22, 2020, rivals Kiir and Machar strike a unity deal and form a coalition government.
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Related Events
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Omar al-Bashir announces that he accepts the result, but ...
On June 6, 2011, armed conflict breaksout in South Kordofan between the forces of Northern and Southern Sudan, ahead of the scheduled independence of the South on July 9
This follows an agreement for both sides to withdraw from Abyei.
The parties agreed on June 20 to demilitarize the contested area of Abyei where Ethiopian peacekeepers will be deployed.
The Near East, 2008 to 2019 CE: Uprisings, Conflict, and Political Transitions
Sudan: International Justice and Ongoing Turmoil
In 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, charging him with crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to the Darfur conflict. Despite international pressure, al-Bashir continues to hold power, defying the ICC's ruling and exacerbating tensions within the region.
Conflicts in South Kordofan between rival nomadic tribes escalate in 2009 and 2010, leading to significant casualties and mass displacement. The Sudanese government reaches a fragile ceasefire agreement with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in February 2010, temporarily reducing violence in Darfur, although stability remains elusive.
Egypt: Revolution, Coup, and Political Turmoil
In early 2011, Egypt experiences the historic Egyptian Revolution, sparked by widespread discontent with President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, socioeconomic inequalities, and political repression. Massive demonstrations, particularly in Cairo's Tahrir Square, ultimately lead to Mubarak’s resignation and the installation of a transitional government.
Egypt holds democratic elections in 2012, bringing Mohamed Morsi, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, to power as Egypt’s first democratically elected president. However, tensions quickly rise amid accusations of authoritarianism and Islamist dominance. In July 2013, a military coup led by General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi removes Morsi from power. El-Sisi assumes the presidency, marking a return to military-led governance, accompanied by widespread crackdowns on dissent.
Palestinian Territories: Gaza Conflict and Political Split
Tensions between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza flare into the destructive Gaza War (2008–2009), resulting in significant casualties and widespread infrastructure damage in Gaza. In subsequent years, the Fatah-Hamas conflict deepens political divisions, further entrenching the administrative split between Gaza and the West Bank.
Yemen: Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis
Yemen descends into severe internal conflict with the onset of the Yemeni Civil War in 2014, characterized by the Houthi rebellion against the internationally recognized government. Regional powers, notably Saudi Arabia and Iran, intervene, intensifying the conflict and triggering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
South Sudan: Independence and Civil War
In 2011, South Sudan gains independence following a referendum, ending decades of civil war with Sudan. However, peace proves short-lived as internal rivalries quickly ignite the South Sudanese Civil War in 2013. Ethnic tensions, political rivalries, and brutal violence displace millions and exacerbate famine and humanitarian disasters.
Sudan: Revolution and Transitional Government
Sudan faces another historic turning point with the Sudanese Revolution of 2018–2019, driven by public outrage over economic hardship and political oppression. Mass protests across the nation force Omar al-Bashir from power in April 2019, ending his 30-year rule. A transitional military-civilian government emerges, initiating cautious democratic reforms.
Regional Impact and Legacy
Between 2008 and 2019, the Near East undergoes profound transformations marked by revolutions, civil wars, and ongoing political crises. These events significantly reshape regional dynamics, highlighting the complexity and volatility of governance, national identity, and international influence in the region.