Violence continued in South Sudan following a bloody conflict that erupted December 15. Many—including President Salva Kiir—are saying an attempted coup by supporters of Kiir’s rival, former vice-president Riek Machar, is to blame. Human Rights Watch reported that civilians were being killed for ethnic reasons alone. Both of the major ethnic groups, Dinka and Nuer, were being targeted. As the Record went to press, both sides were considering a ceasefire agreement.
“It’s no secret that there was a coup attempt as alleged by the government,” James Nguen, a South Sudanese native now living in Calgary, told the Record. “Everyone among the South Sudanese community knew this was coming … but we never thought that the war would follow tribal lines and civilians would be targeted based on ethnic grounds.”
The world’s newest country—which gained its independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011 after decades of war—is now in the midst of turmoil, with an estimated 500,000 people displaced and as many as 10,000 killed, according to the International Crisis Group.
President Kiir (who is Dinka) made sweeping changes when he became the first president of South Sudan. Since that time, he released numerous officials from their positions, including Machar, who was ousted in July 2013. Machar (who is Nuer) warned the South Sudanese people that Kiir was moving towards a dictatorship.
“There are many competing versions regarding how this all started,” Mark Durieux, a member at Grace, Calgary, told the Record. “There is rampant speculation within South Sudanese communities and across social media. With that ambiguity comes some blaming, finger pointing, and name-calling. Whatever unity was being crafted by well-intentioned people seems to be rapidly disintegrating and this is deeply disappointing to many South Sudanese and their friends everywhere.”
Durieux, a professor of sociology at the University of Calgary, is also co-convener of Grace’s social justice and development team. He has become intimately involved with the Lost Boys and Girls—young men and women who fled Sudan years ago during its bloody civil war—now living in Calgary and has helped them forge connections with the congregation.
James Nguen is one of those Lost Boys; he came to Canada in 2001. His mother and two sisters still live in South Sudan, along with extended family.
“In Juba where this crisis occurred, I have relatives there. I lost six of my cousins, nieces and nephews to targeted killing … against the Nuer ethnic group.
“I am in disbelief that it actually happened,” he said.
In January, Kiir was holding 11 senior politicians, which remained a major obstacle to peace.
“Is there hope?” asks Durieux. “Absolutely, but first South Sudan needs to see the institutionalization of a true, participatory and fair democracy supported by rule of law. This is where the United Nations might play a major role. Only after this is accomplished can true development begin.”
The Presbyterian Church in Canada and South Sudan
“Grace continues to support the Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan as well as the world’s third-largest South Sudanese diaspora population, which calls Calgary home,” said Mark Durieux, a member of Grace, Calgary. “Very recently Grace hosted an important inaugural meeting of the “Friends of South Sudan” in Calgary. This group is made up of both South Sudanese and mainstream Calgarians. The group has two purposes: 1) to promote humanitarian aid and the institution of true sustainable democracy and development in South Sudan; 2) promote harmonious and peaceful relations and community development, in the face of rising tensions, within the many South Sudanese communities here in Calgary. This group would certainly welcome collaborating with other like-minded groups across Canada and we would welcome the PCC playing a critical role in the development or support of these groups.”
“PWS&D has been supporting programs in Sudan via the ACT Alliance and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank,” said Ken Kim, director of Presbyterian World Service and Development. “We have been providing emergency relief support for this protracted crisis for well over a decade. We have also consistently supported the ACT Alliance/Caritas program in Darfur as well.
“One particular project in South Sudan via CFGB has been ongoing for three years. It has aimed to improve the nutritional status and increase the food security of an estimated 7,000 conflict-affected individuals. Distributing over six tonnes of mixed seed, the program assists the reintegration of returnee and host community families by providing them the means to restart agricultural livelihood activities with needed inputs and training.”
