- Joined
- May 6, 2016
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 489
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
In December 2013, just a few years after South Sudan gained official independence, war broke out. In the following year, 50,000 people died (in a country with 11.53 million at the time). The war had consequences outside of people being killed, though. Since the country is primarily agricultural, most people in the rural areas grow their own food. This was hard to do as much of the fighting occurred in the rural areas, so people didn't plant and thus didn't reap during harvest season. This obviously caused a great famine.
In the next few years, notably less people died. From 2015 to 2017, the death toll ranged between 3,000 and 4,000. In 2016, Juba (the capital and largest city of the country) was turned into a truce zone. There was also a ceasefire which was established in the same year, but it was broken just a few hours after going into effect.
In 2018, in response to the failure of both sides to come to an agreement, the US implemented an arms embargo on the country. Although the war is still ongoing, as of August 2018, only 370 people died in direct conflict.
Even if the war is still ongoing, it seems like the annual death toll is falling.
In the next few years, notably less people died. From 2015 to 2017, the death toll ranged between 3,000 and 4,000. In 2016, Juba (the capital and largest city of the country) was turned into a truce zone. There was also a ceasefire which was established in the same year, but it was broken just a few hours after going into effect.
In 2018, in response to the failure of both sides to come to an agreement, the US implemented an arms embargo on the country. Although the war is still ongoing, as of August 2018, only 370 people died in direct conflict.
Even if the war is still ongoing, it seems like the annual death toll is falling.