After a brief reprieve from violence, South Sudan, which became independent last July, is again facing sectarian violence. According to the Christian Science Monitor Jan. 17, more than 6,000 members of the Lou Nuer tribe marched into Murle lands, armed with knives and other weapons. The ensuing massacre resulted in thousands of deaths and, according to the U.N., impacted up to 60,000 who are currently in need of humanitarian assistance.
As South Sudan’s leaders work to rein in sectarian violence, the international community has attempted to assist in protecting the Sudanese from tribal conflict. The U.N. sent 1,000 peacekeepers to protect Sudanese citizens before the December massacre, and NPR said Jan. 17 that the White House recently “cleared a legal hurdle to provide military assistance” of its own to Sudan. #
