President Salva Kiir publicly claimed that a coup attempt had been made by forces loyal to the former Vice President, Riek Machar.

President Salva Kiir publicly claimed that a coup attempt had been made by forces loyal to the former Vice President, Riek Machar. This announcement marked the beginning of what would become the South Sudanese Civil War. The tension between the two leaders had been escalating since Kiir dismissed Machar from his position, a decision that exacerbated existing political and ethnic divides within the country. Following Kiir's allegations, violent clashes broke out in the capital, Juba, primarily between soldiers from the Dinka ethnic group, loyal to Kiir, and those from the Nuer ethnic group, aligned with Machar. This initial conflict quickly spread to other regions, resulting in widespread violence and atrocities, including mass killings, rape, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Humanitarian impacts were severe and far-reaching. Thousands of civilians were killed, and millions were displaced from their homes, seeking refuge in UN camps and neighboring countries. The country's infrastructure, already fragile, suffered extensive damage, further complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid. Additionally, the conflict disrupted agricultural production and markets, leading to severe food shortages and famine conditions in parts of the country. International efforts to mediate the conflict saw limited success, as several ceasefires were brokered but repeatedly violated by both sides. The peace process was complicated by the deep-seated ethnic tensions and the involvement of various militias and foreign actors with vested interests in the region. Despite numerous attempts at peace negotiations, the conflict persisted for several years, profoundly affecting South Sudan’s political landscape and hindering the young nation’s hopeful trajectory towards stability and development. #SouthSudaneseCivilWar #SalvaKiir #RiekMachar #CoupAttempt #EthnicConflict #HumanitarianCrisis #PoliticalTensions #MoofLife