Intercommunal Armed Conflict and Government Intervention: case Study of Jonglei State, South Sudan
Abstract
Jonglei state is one of the ten states that constitute the Republic of South Sudan but with a
number of ethnic groups. The first four ethnic groups have been in conflict with each
other leading to child abduction and cattle raiding. This conflict threatens the security of
.the state because possession of small arms and light weapons has become part of the way of life of the people in Jonglei state. This study therefore looked into possible solutions of
the inter-communal conflict in Jonglei state. The study examined the historical roots of
the conflict, the nature of the intercommunity armed conflict in Jonglei state of South
Sudan and the possible solutions of the conflict. A survey was used as a key research
design and the snowball method employed in gathering the data given the nature of the
issue under investigation. The methods used included questionnaires, face to face
interviews and witness accounts. The majority of the respondents to study were members
of the public, eye witnesses and area civil administrators in Jonglei state. The study found
out that culture and accumulation of wealth were the main causes of cattle raiding and
child abduction in Jonglei state. In addition decline in standards of living, children having
to flee their villages in fear of being abducted, shortage of money due to displacement by
civil wars, poverty since cows (now taken away) were the only source of livelihood
am0!lg the pastoral communities such as Dinka and the scaring away of investors thus
affecting the economy of the country were the economic impacts to the state. The study
recommends that the government of South Sudan should encourage its citizens to
diversify in other economic activities like farming and mining apart from cattle keeping
which is the only source of livelihood among the pastoral communities such as Dinka in
Jonglei state. This will reduce or eliminate cattle raiding and children and women
abduction in the area. The study also recommends zero grassing to reduce the incidences
of cattle raiding.
Description
MA