Six Months of Civil War in South Sudan
After six months of civil war in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation is struggling with a worsening aid crisis and warnings of the risk of famine.
The conflict, which started in the capital Juba before spreading to other key states, has taken on an ethnic dimension, pitting President Salva Kiir's Dinka tribe against militia forces from rebel chief Riek Machar's Nuer people.
The fighting has so far cost thousands of lives and forced 1.5 million people from their homes.
--DECEMBER 2013--
- 15: Heavy gunfire erupts in Juba, where tensions have run high since Machar was fired as vice-president in July. Kiir denounces a coup and says Machar is behind it.
Machar later denies this, and in turn accuses Kiir of starting the war by launching a purge of his rivals.
Fighting spreads to several states.
--JANUARY 2014--
- 10: Government troops recapture the key northern city of Bentiu, capital of oil-rich Unity State, which fell into the hands of rebels on December 22.
- 15: Uganda acknowledges for the first time that its soldiers are fighting to support Kiir and backing South Sudan's army.
- 18: Government forces recapture the key town of Bor, capital of eastern Jonglei State, which had changed hands several times since mid-December.
- 20: The army says it has seized back full control of Malakal, capital of the oil state of Upper Nile and the last major settlement under rebel control.
- 23: Government and rebels sign a ceasefire agreement in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, but fighting continues.
--FEBRUARY--
- 18: Rebels launch a major assault on Malakal.
- 27: Human Rights Watch says war crimes have been committed by all sides.
--MARCH--
- 12: The African Union launches a probe into those responsible for atrocities since the conflict started.
--APRIL--
- 15: Machar vows to attack the capital and target oil fields, warning the conflict will not end until Kiir is removed from power.
- 15: Rebels wrest back control of Bentiu and issue an ultimatum to oil companies to shut down production.
- 17: At least 58 civilians are killed in an attack by some 350 young armed men on a U.N. base in Bor sheltering thousands of displaced civilians.
- 21: The United Nations accuses Machar's gunmen of massacring "hundreds" of civilians because of their ethnicity when they captured Bentiu.
-- MAY --
- 2: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visits Juba, threatening both sides with sanctions and warning of the risk of "genocide."
- 06: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visits Juba to push for peace, as Washington slaps sanctions on two military commanders from both sides for "unthinkable" violence.
- 08: The U.N. says both sides have likely carried out crimes against humanity.
- 9: Kiir and Machar meet in Addis Ababa and recommit to the January ceasefire, but again, fighting continues.
- 10: The U.N. warns of famine should fighting continue.
- 15: Cholera outbreak in Juba reported, killing several and spreading outside the capital.
-- JUNE --
- 10: Kiir and Machar meet in Addis Ababa and recommit to the ceasefire deals, as well as agreeing to forge a transitional government within a 60-day deadline.
- 14: U.N. warns 50,000 children at risk of death as they say one billion dollars is needed for an escalating aid crisis.
- 15: Aid agencies say the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://mobile.naharnet.com/stories/en/135039 |