"This book explores the relationship between predatory wealth accumulation, state formation, and extreme ethnic group entitlement with genocidal potential in South Sudan. It traces the rise of a predatory state during the second civil war (1983-2005) and its transformation into a violent Dinka ethnocracy after independence that waged genocide against non-Dinka civilians in the third civil war (2013-)"--
In a world where the spotlight often favors the powerful, Clémence Pinaud’s "War and Genocide in South Sudan" courageously shifts focus to the marginalized voices demanding justice. Pinaud’s meticulous research, combined with her interviews with South Sudanese individuals, paints a vivid picture of the atrocities faced by the ethnic Nuer and other groups caught in the crossfire, such as the Equatorians. Her compelling narrative transcends mere reporting, urging a clarion call for accountability and change.
This book is essential reading for Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Pinaud’s detailed accounts provide invaluable evidence, demanding an investigation into South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his Dinka generals, along with some Nuer generals he managed to bribe, accused of orchestrating a brutal genocide against the Nuer and other ethnic groups.
Khan, known for his recent successful indictments of high-profile figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges, would find Pinaud’s book a crucial resource. It underscores his commitment to justice, even under significant political pressure.
"War and Genocide in South Sudan" is more than a book; it's a testament to the resilience of the suffering and a rallying cry for human rights advocates. Pinaud’s eloquence and unflinching honesty demand our attention.
Whilst the wars in Ukraine and Palestine have had a lot of airtime, the horrors of what has happened in South Sudan are largely ignored. It felt important to me to educate myself on these events because if people don’t know what is happening then global pressures to change simply won’t be there. I do find it incredibly depressing that as an international community we have failed to learn from events in Rwanda and South Sudan about what genocide looks like as it unfolds. Too often we only call such events what they are in hindsight when at the time of events we opted for denial and minimisation. This was an exceptionally well researched book on an incredibly important topic. But I did struggle with this book as it is very dense. It’s been several months of reading. The text is lot for someone like me wanting to read for general learning rather than academic study.