South Sudan: State of emergency declared in northwest

Event

On Monday evening, July 17, President Salva Kiir declared a state of emergency in Gogrial state, as well as parts of Tonj, Wau, and Awiel states, in the northwest of the country. This decree comes following several civilian deaths due to tribal conflicts in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region, including revenge killings and cattle theft. Government officials claim that these ethnic tensions are creating further instability amid the country's ongoing civil war. The measure will give increased powers to the judiciary and state governors to ensure the conflict does not spread. The state of emergency is expected to last 90 days, during which a nightly curfew is in effect and government troops will be deployed.

Context

South Sudan, the world's youngest country, has been plagued by a civil war that started just two years after it gained independence in 2011. A power struggle between President Kiir and then-Vice President Riek Machar escalated into a military conflict in December 2013, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. The conflict has pitted Kiir's Dinka ethnic group against Machar's Nuers. Other ethnic groups have also created militias that have allied with one side or the other, creating a complex network of opposing groups. The number of South Sudanese citizens displaced by the conflict currently stands at some 4 million.

Advice

Due to this and other security concerns, many Western governments advise against nonessential travel to South Sudan and certain regions should be avoided entirely, including the states of Unity and Upper Nile, the north of Warrap state, parts of Eastern and Central Equatoria states, and areas along the border with the Central African Republic, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If travel is necessary, ensure that proper security protocols are in place.