1. Diaspora Action Australia Peace conference Melbourne, Australia 26th September 2016
Brief overview on South Sudan Crisis
By Peter Pal,
Chairperson of The Union of Greater Upper Nile States (UGUNS)

2. Introduction
Critical periods: The struggle of South Sudan for freedom and justice
Causes of Sudan’s civil war between Sudan and South Sudanese
The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
Peace process
Diaspora efforts in peace building
Where to from now?

3. Critical periods: The struggle of South Sudanese for freedom and justice
1955
2011

4. Map of Sudan and South Sudan

5. Causes of Sudan’s civil war between Sudan and South Sudanese
Call for a Secular State i.e. integrating Sudan’s diverse populations into a single pluralist state Lowrie, 1993
Injustices i.e. oppression and marginalization
Culture and religion were the main factors leading to Sudan divorce

6. Legacies of Sudan’s civil war
Traumatize society
Tribalism
Poverty
Handful of guns left into the hand of civilians creating insecurity
Social fabric evolved

7. The inception of South Sudan
CPA was signed in 2005 after a bloody civil war of 21st years.
Referendum was held in 2010 as stipulated by CPA leading to the birth of the Republic of South Sudan in 2011.
International community support and the expectation for good governance was enormous.
Then, what went wrong?

8. The causes of the current conflict in South Sudan
Lack of vision to drive the transition process of establishing state’s institutions and to articulate the nation’s future
Lack of a transparent and accountable leadership
Corruption i.e. the Sentry report by enough project revealed that the top leaders of South Sudan embezzled nation funds
Old tensions were fuelling new divisions in the leadership, eventually leading to the crisis in 2013 (Hilde F. Johnson 2016)

9. The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
Since the conflict erupted in 2013:
1 in 5 people in South Sudan have been displaced.
More than 2.3 million citizens have been forced to flee their homes.
Just over 720,000 people have escaped to neighboring countries in search of safety, but most are trapped inside the warring nation.
Around 3 million people are currently at risk of going hungry.

11. PEACE PROCESS

12. The opposition returned to Juba, after a long negotiated peace deal.
On 17th August 2015, a peace agreement was signed on South Sudan’s conflict resolution.
The opposition returned to Juba, after a long negotiated peace deal.
The Transitional Government of National Unity formed, considering many other outstanding issues to be address.
On 9th July 2016 (after three months together in juba) the conflict erupted which forced the VP out of the country till now.

13. The two principles walking to Statehouse to take oath

14. Diaspora efforts in peace building
UGUNS has been promoting political ideology (i.e. unity, peace and development) and nationalism.
Convened conferences to enhance diaspora’s knowledge to understand and facilitate restorative justice and healing process.
Provide cultural understanding and educate the host country of the nature of the current South Sudan conflict.
Engage with international peace organizations in Australia to help facilitate, coordinate peace activities, and transfer knowledge back home.
Provide humanitarian supports by working with relevant NGOs.

15. Where to from now?
There still a confusion of what the future hold for South Sudan given the current political turmoil.
We need political leadership that will facilitate and coordinate the transition process from war to peace.
The announcement by Regional and UN to organize a protection forces is welcome.
We will continue advocating for peace to come in South Sudan

16. Without peace in South Sudan:
Families will remain in hiding away from their homes and their land, unable to plant, and
The economy will decline further.
The number of people at risk of starvation will continue to rise.
Families will die from starvation, malnutrition and disease.

17. South Sudan of today and tomorrow need your help! Q&A?