The Quest for Managing Ethnic Conflicts in Africa

The South Sudanese conflict which erupted on 15 December 2013 as a result of power struggle within SPLM between President Salva Kirr and his deputy Riek Machar has escalated into a full-fledged ethnic conflict. Initially the conflict was triggered by political power struggle within SPLM. Nevertheless it turned out to be an ethnic conflict between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups dragging the world’s newest nation into devastation and total collapse. The conflict has already taken an ethnic dimension where the two dominant ethnic groups are fighting for political power and to control natural resources. Although IGAD has facilitated and mediated more than eight rounds of peace talks since the outbreak of the conflict none of them are successful in restoring lasting peace in South Sudan. This is partly because the ethnic characterization of the conflict has been systematically excluded from the management processes. Therefore based on the findings of this book South Sudan will continue to suffer from widespread inter-ethnic violent conflicts unless ethnic identities are managed in the IGAD led peace negotiations and incorporated in the state structure and governance system.