Armed Groups in South Sudan
Due to a security vacuum in many areas of South Sudan, numerous armed groups are able to operate. Categorizing them is difficult as most do not fall under neat headings. They include militias, foreign armed groups, self-defence units, pastoralist cattle raiding parties, heavily-armed civilians, nomadic communities, private armies, disgruntled (former) Sudan People's Liberation Army or militia members, and 'criminal' gangs. Participation in these groups can be extremely fluid and is generally grounded in ethnic affiliations, local cultural norms, and the desire to gain access to resources or power, as well as clientelism. Porous borders and the absence of a professional police force allow members of these groups to move freely across internal and international borders.
Click here for information on the following:
Relevant Tables, Maps, and Summaries
Relevant HSBA Publications
