War and Genocide in South Sudan

by Clémence Pinaud

Using more than a decade's worth of fieldwork in South Sudan, Clémence Pinaud here explores the relationship between predatory wealth accumulation, state formation, and a form of racism―extreme ethnic group entitlement―that has the potential to result in genocide. War and Genocide in South Sudan traces the rise of a predatory state during civil war in southern Sudan and its transformation into a violent Dinka ethnocracy after the region's formal independence. That new state, Pinaud argues, waged genocide against non-Dinka civilians in 2013-2017. During a civil war that wrecked the region between 1983 and 2005, the predominantly Dinka Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) practiced ethnically exclusive and predatory wealth accumulation. Its actions fostered extreme group entitlement and profoundly shaped the rebel state. Ethnic group entitlement eventually grew into an ideology of ethnic supremacy. After that war ended, the semi-autonomous state turned into a violent and predatory ethnocracy―a process accelerated by independence in 2011. The rise of exclusionary nationalism, a new security landscape, and inter-ethnic political competition contributed to the start of a new round of civil war in 2013, in which the recently founded state unleashed violence against nearly all non-Dinka ethnic groups. Pinaud investigates three campaigns waged by the South Sudan government in 2013–2017 and concludes they were genocidal―they sought to destroy non-Dinka target groups. She demonstrates how the perpetrators' sense of group entitlement culminated in land-grabs that amounted to a genocidal conquest echoing the imperialist origins of modern genocides. Thanks to generous funding from TOME, the ebook editions of this book are available as Open Access volumes from Cornell Open (cornellpress.cornell.edu/cornell-open) and other repositories.

Genres: History, Africa, South Sudan, Nonfiction

330 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2021

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Morag Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Pablo Manes Marzano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante

Me pareció muy completa la información aunque algo repetitiva en algunos casos. Se entiende la situación del continente africano en general.