South Sudan's Civil War: Violence, Insurgency and Failed Peacemaking

South Sudan descended into violent civil war two years after achieving independence, refuting US government claims of a foreign policy success. John Young's book-length study of the conflict reveals how the US-led peace process and opposition politics contributed to the crisis, making it an essential guide to the causes and consequences of the violence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

South Sudan, which attained independence just two years before, descended into a devastating civil war in 2013, contradicting the claims of the US government that the country's succession was a significant foreign policy success and would bring an end to endemic conflict. However, the situation worsened when the international community declared a famine in 2017. In his groundbreaking book-length study of the South Sudan civil war, John Young, in close but critical association with the rebel SPLM-IO leadership, unveils the intricate dynamics of the conflict and exposes how the South Sudanese state was already in crisis long before the outbreak of war. Drawing on his deep understanding of the histories and motivations of the key protagonists of the rebellions, Young argues that a significant portion of the responsibility for the current state of South Sudan must be attributed to the US-led peace process. By linking the role of the international community with the country's opposition politics, South Sudan's Civil War serves as an indispensable guide to understanding the root causes and far-reaching consequences of the violence that has engulfed one of Africa's most troubled nations.

Weight: 302g
Dimension: 213 x 139 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786993748