South Sudan is the newest country in the world … and it’s also responsible for the largest refugee crisis in Africa.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. This came six years after the end of the Second Sudanese Civil War — which lasted over 22 years.
This newly established nation only knew peace for two years before yet another civil war broke out in December 2013.
How the South Sudanese Civil War Started
Over 400,000 people were killed in South Sudan’s civil war
A power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar led to Machar’s removal from office. Following this decision, fighting broke out in the presidential guard between two of South Sudan’s largest ethnic groups — the Dinka and the Nuer.
The Dinka aligned themselves with President Kirr, while the Nuer supported Machar. Once word got out of the intended coup, fighting spread throughout South Sudan like wildfire.
The country was officially at war with itself.
Machar fled to a neighboring country, but he still led rebel forces from afar. In 2015, President Kiir signed an agreement restating Machar as Vice President and he returned.
Unfortunately, peace talks quickly fell apart, causing another eruption of violence. Machar once again stepped down from his role as Vice President and fled the country.
The South Sudan civil war continued for another three years. Any attempts at a ceasefire were almost always violated by both parties. It wasn’t until Uganda and Sudan mediated negotiations in June 2018 that there was hope for an end to the war.
The first few weeks after the negotiations were strenuous. Violations of the peace treaty were once again made by both parties, but a final ceasefire agreement was signed in August 2018.
Machar was reinstated as Vice President once again under a new power-sharing structure of government, and the civil war was officially over … but the country was in total ruin.
The South Sudanese Civil War’s Long-Term Impact
You can be the hands and feet of Jesus for South Sudanese refugees and displaced people today
Today, over 80% of the South Sudanese population lives below the poverty line. Natural disasters like droughts and flash flooding have destroyed crucial crops, making the economy even worse. Preventable diseases run rampant without proper medical supplies, and so much more.
There are currently over 2.3 million refugees from South Sudan living in neighboring countries, and another 2.2 remain internally displaced, largely because of the war. Of the people leaving, 83% are women and children … and 66,000 of these kids are separated from their parents.
During this ongoing time of crisis, Uganda has welcomed South Sudanese refugees with open arms.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, “On average 2,500 people arrive in Uganda every week, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, primarily driven by ongoing conflicts and climate-related challenges.”
Now, over one million South Sudanese like Ikra live in Uganda.
What It’s Like to Be a South Sudanese Refugee
52% of girls like Ikra in South Sudan are married before they turn 18
When the fighting broke out in South Sudan, Ikra’s mother was pregnant with her. In the chaos that swiftly ensued, her father was poisoned and died … never getting to meet his little girl.
Hearing that the borders to Uganda were open, Ikra’s mother fled south. She settled in a refugee camp and gave birth to her daughter. Ikra has lived her entire life inside that camp — and she has known hardships that most of us will never experience.
With more refugees coming each day, essentials like food, water, and clothing are difficult to find.
The Ugandan government is struggling to support their own people and South Sudanese refugees like Ikra, and Uganda isn’t the only country dealing with a large refugee population.
The good news is that you can be a lifeline for a refugee in need today.
Go to our website today to learn more about how you can help refugees and displaced people from South Sudan and other high-conflict areas worldwide.
Make sure to broaden out to other countries