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2013: Civil War Begins

​In December 2013, political tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar erupted into violence. What began as a power struggle within the government quickly escalated into a civil war. As fighting spread, the conflict took on an increasingly ethnic dimension, particularly between the Dinka and Nuer communities. Reports from human rights organizations documented widespread attacks on civilians based on ethnic identity, with early warnings of ethnic cleansing in some areas.

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2014–2015: Escalation and Ethnic Violence

The conflict intensified, and civilians became the primary victims of violence. Reports included mass killings, sexual violence, torture, and the destruction of entire villages. Fighting between government forces, Dinka-aligned militias, and Nuer opposition groups led to civilians being targeted along ethnic lines. Many human rights organizations and observers described patterns of ethnic cleansing as communities were attacked and forcibly displaced. Millions of people were forced to flee their homes, creating one of the largest displacement crises in the world. In 2015, a peace agreement was signed, but it failed to fully stop the violence.

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2016: Collapse of Peace

In 2016, fighting broke out again in the capital, Juba, shattering hopes created by the 2015 peace agreement. The renewed violence caused another wave of displacement and intensified fears of ethnically targeted attacks against civilians. Many civilians fled to United Nations protection sites or neighboring countries for safety.

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2017–2018: Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

As the conflict continued, South Sudan experienced widespread famine conditions and ongoing violence. Reports of ethnic targeting, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians remained frequent. Humanitarian organizations warned that the conflict had created severe and long-lasting humanitarian consequences. In 2018, a revitalized peace agreement was signed in an effort to end the war.

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2019–2020: Fragile Peace Agreement

Following the 2018 agreement, large-scale fighting decreased. In 2020, a unity government was formed between Kiir and Machar. However, the agreement remained fragile, and many provisions were not fully implemented. Localized violence, political tensions, and ethnic clashes continued in various regions.

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2021–2024: Continued Instability

Despite the formal end of the civil war, South Sudan continued to experience violence, displacement, and severe food insecurity. Humanitarian organizations reported millions of people in need of assistance, with ongoing vulnerability among civilians. Ethnic tensions remained a contributing factor to localized violence in several regions.

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2025–Present: Ongoing Crisis

South Sudan remains politically unstable, with tensions between leaders threatening the fragile peace. Millions of people continue to rely on humanitarian aid. According to Genocide Watch, the situation has reached Stage 9, “Extermination,” in its Ten Stages of Genocide framework, citing ethnic violence, mass killings, displacement, and lack of accountability. While some organizations highlight genocide risk factors, others continue to classify the situation as an ongoing civil war marked by ethnic violence and crimes against humanity.

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Today

More than a decade after the conflict began, South Sudan remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Over 400,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of the conflict and its consequences. Millions have been displaced, and widespread hunger, insecurity, and lack of infrastructure continue to affect daily life.