South Sudan strife

This item appears on page 16 of the February 2014 issue.

A political struggle between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and a fired deputy minister, Riek Machar, erupted into violence between their supporters in mid-December. Fighting spread from the country’s capital, Juba, to Bor and Torit, capitals of eastern states. At least 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting, and about 121,000 have fled their homes seeking safety in UN compounds and smaller villages. The two sides agreed to begin peace talks in January as the fighting continues.