South Sudan is on the Brink of a Full-Blown Civil War

This could get very bad, very quickly

South Sudan is the world’s youngest country—and it has been troubled from the start. After decades of struggle, the country broke free from Sudan in 2011, gaining independence with the support of the United States, Europe, and most Western powers. But soon after independence, the turmoil began. Political rivalries intensified, as did competition over oil resources. Meanwhile, vain political leaders prioritized their personal fortunes over the good of the country. South Sudan was soon torn apart. A brutal civil war killed some 400,000 people from 2013 to 2018, when a peace agreement was signed.

But that peace agreement is now rapidly unraveling. Last week, the International Crisis Group issued a rare alert, warning that the country was on the precipice of a renewed, full-blown civil war. This is partly a consequence of the conflict north of the border in Sudan, which is spilling over into both the territory and the fraught politics of South Sudan.

Joining me for an in-depth conversation about what is happening in South Sudan is Daniel Akech Thiong, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. We discuss concerning events over the last several days that suggest an explosive conflict is imminent, some of the underlying drivers of this conflict, and how the civil war in Sudan is exacerbating the situation. We also explore what can be done to pull South Sudan back from the brink.

Here’s a preview of our conversation. The full conversation is available immediately below the fold for paying subscribers.

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