Editor’s note: Akol Dok is a recent graduate of Iowa State University. He will be contributing to the opinion page through letters on South Sudan, his home country, to educate Americans on daily realities in other parts of the world.

The Republic of South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, but after two and half years this embryonic nation ascended into a civil war that began as a political power struggle that turned violent between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former Vice President Riek Machar Teny. Both Kirr and Machar belong to the same political party, the SPLM (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement).

This war has seen episodes of ethnic violence, mass displacement, major towns being abandoned, economic regression, hyperinflation, and has resulted in famine being declared in parts of the country. 

How did the war begin?

According to President Kiir, on Dec. 15, 2013 Machar and other SPLM members attempted to overthrow his government. Soldiers loyal to Machar began fighting the government, but were repulsed by government forces.

Kirr justified the arrest of ten high profile political officials including former secretary-general of the SPLM, Pagan Amum and former deputy minister of defense, Majak d’Agoot. Kirr accused them of treason and attempting to overthrow the government. 

According to Dr. Riek Machar, President Kiir attempted to eliminate political opponents who had spoken out against him and accused him of bad leadership and corruption.

In July 2013, President Kiir fired Machar from the vice president position and SPLM Secretary-General Amum, and reshuffled his entire cabinet. Machar claims Kiir fired him because Riek had expressed interested in contesting Kiir in presidential elections set to be held in 2015. Riek claims President Kiir started the conflict as an attempt to consolidate power and target political opponents.

It’s not clear on what exactly triggered the fighting, but what is clear is this is a political power struggle rooted in the ruling political party, the SPLM.

The war appears to be ethnic since Kiir is Dinka and Machar is Nuer, but strong evidence that refutes this claim; both ethnicities are found on both sides.

But the majority of Machar supporters are ethnic Nuer and a majority of Kiir supporters are Dinka. Ethnic violence has taken place leading people to falsely believe the Dinka are fighting the Nuer. This is not a tribal war but a political war for power. 

The war is simple, Machar wants to overthrow Kiir’s government and take power. Kiir’s government is fighting Machar and the Rebels to maintain power.

Who is fighting who?

These are the two major sides in the South Sudan Civil War, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Government (SPLM-IG), and the Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) – the Government against the Rebels. 

Where has fighting taken place?

South Sudan has three regions, Bahr el Ghazel, Upper Nile, and Equatoria. The majority of the war has taken place in the Upper Nile Region where major oil fields are located. Oil is a major revenue for the government of South Sudan and the Rebels attempted to halt the production of oil cutting off supply to the government. 

Heavy fighting took place in Malakal, Benitu and Bor, the three major cities in the Upper Nile Region. The government and rebels exchanged control of the major towns, but ultimately the government regained full control. Juba, Malakal, Benitu and Bor are where the heaviest fighting took place, but other towns in the Equatoria and Bahrz el Ghazal regions saw violence.

Strong evidence suggests both the rebel forces and government forces have committed grave human rights violations including civilian killings, rape, looting and child solider recruitment. For justice to be brought to families and victims of human rights abuse both rebel soldiers and government soldiers must be held accountable for atrocities. 

What about the Peace Agreement?

In late August 2015, President Kiir and Machar signed a peace agreement called the “Compromise Peace Agreement” mediated by Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an eight nation trade bloc composed of East African Nations. 

The Peace Agreement created the Transitional Government of National Unity where Machar would become the First Vice President and members of his political party the SPLM-IO would receive ministerial and parliamentary posts. TGONU was to establish a joint police force and set a timeline for cantonment, where rebel forces would integrate into the national army. 

The objective of the Peace Agreement was to end fighting and to attempt to bring political and military forces together. Machar returned to Juba in April 2016 and was sworn in as First Vice President and then Vice President James Wani Igga, an ethnic Bari, was moved to Second Vice President. 

In July 2016, While President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President Riek Machar and Second Vice President James Wani Igga were in a meeting at the Presidential Palace (J1), fighting begun between soldiers loyal to Machar and Kiir. Strong evidence suggests during the fighting neither side had control over their forces. The fighting resulted in over a hundred deaths and forced Machar out of Juba. 

After a 48-hour ultimatum given by Kiir for Machar to return to Juba to progress the implementation of the Peace Agreement, Kiir asked the SPLM-IO to replace Machar.

According to the Peace Agreement the First Vice President position was reserved for a member of the SPLM-IO. The SPLM-IO leadership decided to replace Machar with former chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, a Nuer as First Vice President. This created contention within the SPLM-IO and split the party between those loyal to Machar and those loyal to Deng.

The government and the SPLM-IO lead by Deng have continued to implement the Compromise Peace Agreement, while Machar is currently exiled in South Africa. The legitimacy of Deng was questioned by SPLM-IO members loyal to Machar, but the International Community has recognized Deng as the legitment First Vice President of South Sudan.

Where are we now? 

The government claims to be implementing the Comprise Peace Agreement, but both rebels and government forces have engaged in fighting throughout the country and famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan. 

In May 2017, President Kiir called for ceasefire urging government forces from making any offensives and launching the National Dialogue. The National Dialogue was set to serve as a peaceful way to end the conflict, allowing rival factions, citizens, and political groups the opportunity to discuss issues and bring reconciliation to the war torn nation. 

Kiir excluded Machar from the National Dialogue; a move critics have said will hinder the progress of the National Dialogue. In order to find peace, Kiir and Machar must both reconcile and come together. 

The Republic of South Sudan will overcome this conflict and will see prosperity, success, peace and stability. Every nation has gone through hard times, unfortunately for South Sudan it occurred during its infancy.

South Sudanese citizens must become proactive in promoting peace and unity – setting an example and encouraging others to follow. South Sudanese have seen what happens when greed and power are prioritized over national interests. The biggest losers of this war are ordinary South Sudanese citizens forced to flee their homes, starve, lose family members and suffer while their leaders enjoy luxury and safety.

No tribe has benefited from this war; every tribe has seen violence, displacement and chaos. South Sudanese must accept the harsh truth that they are not enemies to each other, and must stop fighting each other. The death of a South Sudanese regardless of the tribe is a loss to all South Sudanese.