While the causes of inter-communal violence in Jonglei State are complex, ranging from arms proliferation and insecurity to marginalisation and lack of development, it is imperative that the newly-independent State demonstrates its commitment to preventing further intercommunal attacks and protecting civilians from violence and abuse, regardless of their ethnic origin. Its success in creating a new state and national identity will greatly depend on its ability to overcome ethnically-driven conflict, and to safeguard the human rights of all its people and communities, including access to food, education and healthcare.

In February Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] had called on [JURIST report] South Sudan to investigate the ethnic conflict sparked by the attacks made on Murle villages and to prosecute those responsible for the violence. In December around 6,000 to 8,000 armed Lou Nuer youths calling themselves "White Army" invaded the Murle villages for 12 days, robbing and burning houses and killing thousands of people. In response, the Murles groups initiated retaliatory attacks on Lou Nuer and Bor Dinka areas which lasted until February 4. South Sudan is not only facing tension within its boundaries. In April the Sudanese government declared a state of emergency [JURIST report] on the South Sudan border after the arrest of four people whom the Sudanese claim were arrested for aggression against the north in the contested Heglig oil fields. During the same month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] called on [JURIST report] both Sudan [BBC backgrounder; JURIST news archive] and South Sudan to stop the violence that has caused fatalities on both sides. South Sudan was recognized as an independent state [JURIST report] in July 2011, making it the world's 193rd nation.