The civil war in southern Sudan
Southern Sudan is one of the latest countries in Africa’s entire continent after it separated from the republic of Sudan. The country’s celebration for independence did not last for many long because of the ethnic clashes that broke out (Blanchard, 2016). The violence has been traced to the two major tribes of the state, which are Lou Nuer and the Murle. Thousands of people have succumbed to the violence, and a considerable number of them are displaced or become refugees in the adjacent nations. The primary aim of the paper is to deliberate on the article by the Aljazeera News presenting bulletin on the clashes that started in the country. The article’s main points are discussing by highlighting the approach utilized by the international community to stop the violence. The article also highlights the prejudice element of the media regarding this scenario.
The articles summary
The article is focused on is the Aljazeera News, (2020). The article concerns an expose of the most recent civil war witnessed in South Sudan. Close to 287 individuals have lost their lives, including an employee of the doctors without borders. The Murle initiated retaliatory attacks, which led to the death of over 300 people and multiple injuries. Additionally, a cattle rustling exercise was planned by the Lou Nuer faction leading to the abduction of women and children in the process that happened in February. A camp was established by the united nations at Pieri town to collect data from the survivors of the incidence (Aljazeera News, 2020). Additionally, the doctors established a medical camp without borders at the same town to offer medical assistance to the survivors of the violence.
For more than six years, civil war has been happening in southern Sudan, leading to the death of over 380,000 individuals. Moreover, there has been internal displacement and injuries to several millions of other people. President Salva Kiir Mayadit led the signing of a peace pact between the government and the rebels led by Riek Machar (Aljazeera News, 2020). Riek Machar was made the vice president of the country. The presence of a vacuum in the leadership of the country has resulted in incidences of lawlessness because of the absence of authority. Another serious issue that happened is the floods that were experienced in August 2019, which resulted in the death of many cattle, causing an economic crisis to the pastoral community. Accordingly, the incidences of cattle rustling have been fuelled by a lack of source of livelihood.
The influence from outside that may help change the issue.
The international community has played a critical role in helping the country achieve peace and reconciliation (Blanchard, 2016). For instance, the African Union has been leading in enhancing the young country’s stability, apart from leading the conversations to enhance the piece. Additionally, the united nations have also contributed immensely in the restring peace in the country. Providing help to the affected communities after the incidence of floods is one of the interventions aimed at reducing the need for basic needs. There is also a need for the international community to help the survivors of the violence by providing food and health help. The absence of sustainable means of livelihood is another established reason for the unrest. Hence, it is critical for the international community to help the government create a state leadership. This could be through providing financial support to the created government. Moreover, providing the military to help keep the peace as the country creates its own forces that would guard the citizen against the armed rebels.
Prejudice in reporting the incidence
In some occasions, the media has displayed incidences of biasness when reporting the particular issue. In reporting the issue of concern, the journalist may be inclined to one side of the story (Weidmann, 2016). The perception of the concerned issue may be distorted because of the influence of the biasness by the media article. In articulating the issue of South Sudan, the article is not biased because of the uniform reporting of the information from all the three parties. The Murle community is deemed to be one of the main culprits of war and led to war against the Lou Nuer. On the contrary, the Lou Nuer is also highlighted to have triggered raids against the Murle in February. All the communities practiced pastoralism and were all affected by the floods that occurred in February. The government is also displayed as the primary piece making body (Weidmann, 2016). The recent peace agreement has now stopped the six years of unrest. The president and the rebel leaders agreed to work together with Riek Machar, being appointed as the vice president. It is also evident that the international community also played a crucial role in helping the survivors.
Conclusion
The media is a critical body in transmitting information regarding the emerging incidences in society. The issue of tribal violence has been a significant issue of the expansion in the extent of community features of concern. The media is responsible for creating awareness concerning the affected community to the international community to trigger intervention. Accordingly, the international community may offer help in the case of conflict among significant tribes in southern Sudan. There are some occasions when media reports with bias. This bias also affects the audience. There is a need for the media to be neutral to prevent confusion on the central issue of concern.