The South Sudan Conflict
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on South Sudan — a fragile peace strained by political rivalry and communal violence.
Open the live conflict map → Common questionsLast updated: 2026-08-06 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: South Sudan Conflict
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Jubacity4.8517, 31.5825
South Sudan's capital and seat of the Transitional Government, briefly threatened by fighting in early 2025 before Ugandan forces deployed in support.
Control: South Sudan's Transitional Government, held with the support of SSPDF and allied Ugandan forces deployed in 2025 — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-07-29
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Akobocity7.7833, 33.0167
Eastern Jonglei town near the Ethiopian border where fighting in 2025-2026 displaced civilians.
Control: South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), which took the town in early March 2026 — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-07-29
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Nasircity8.6034, 33.0708
Upper Nile town on the Sobat River where an army base was overrun during the White Army's 2025 offensive, a flashpoint in the collapse of the unity government.
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Malakalcity9.5334, 31.6605
Capital of Upper Nile state and a historic front line of South Sudan's civil wars, sited on the Nile's main river-transport corridor.
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Bentiucity9.2333, 29.7833
Capital of oil-producing Unity state, repeatedly fought over since 2013 for its proximity to South Sudan's main oil fields.
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Borcity6.2088, 31.5602
Capital of Jonglei state and site of a 2013 massacre that marked the civil war's opening phase.
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Waucity7.7000, 27.9833
Capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state and South Sudan's second-largest city, a rail and road hub in the country's west.
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Renkborder11.7500, 32.7833
Border town on the Sudan frontier that serves as the main transit point for people fleeing both South Sudan's conflict and the war in Sudan.
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Yeiborder4.0930, 30.6866
Southern town near the Ugandan border, an agricultural center and displacement corridor for South Sudanese fleeing violence.
Key facts
- The South Sudan Conflict is a civil conflict in East Africa, currently Active (Medium intensity).
- South Sudan's fragile peace deal remains under strain from political rivalries, recurrent communal violence, and delayed transitions, against a backdrop of severe humanitarian need.
- Key actors: Government forces, Opposition factions, Communal militias.
- What's at stake: Peace deal survival, Communal violence, Humanitarian crisis.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-08-06.
- South Sudan rolls out $14.5 million play-based learning programme2026-08-05 — Radio Tamazuj
- South Sudan: How climate change can turn toxic2026-08-04 — DW.com
- South Sudan police arrest 60 in anti-gang operation in Juba2026-08-04 — Sudans Post
- Researchers: Politics fueling land grabbing in South Sudan2026-08-03 — Radio Tamazuj
- Eastern Equatoria opens election office2026-08-03 — Radio Tamazuj
- South Sudan's president dismisses central bank governor2026-07-30 — africanews.com
- South Sudan: Abuse of Civilians in Western Equatoria2026-07-29 — Human Rights Watch
- MTN South Sudan Welcomes Amonto Girls Academy for Technology Exposure Visit2026-08-06 — TechAfrica News
Overview
South Sudan's fragile peace deal remains under strain from political rivalries, recurrent communal violence, and delayed transitions, against a backdrop of severe humanitarian need.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Government forces — aligned with the presidency.
- Opposition factions — former civil-war rivals in a power-sharing deal.
- Communal militias — involved in localized violence.
- Civilian population — facing displacement and food insecurity.
What's at stake
- Peace deal survival: whether the transition holds.
- Communal violence: localized but deadly clashes.
- Humanitarian crisis: widespread hunger and displacement.
- Oil and economy: control of revenue and resources.
South Sudan Conflict explained: the key dynamics
A fragile power-sharing peace
A 2018 agreement ended the worst of the civil war by bringing rival leaders into a unity government, but implementation has been repeatedly delayed and the arrangement remains fragile.
Communal and localized violence
Much of the ongoing violence is localized and communal — cattle raiding, inter-communal clashes, and sub-national disputes — which can be deadly even amid the national peace deal.
Humanitarian fragility
Flooding, displacement, and food insecurity keep large parts of the population dependent on aid, and the world's youngest country remains acutely fragile.
Timeline: how the south sudan conflict unfolded
- 2011 — South Sudan gains independence from Sudan.
- 2013 — Civil war erupts between factions loyal to rival leaders.
- 2018 — A power-sharing peace agreement is signed.
- 2020–26 — A fragile unity government holds amid recurring communal violence and delays.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
South Sudan's violence is increasingly localized, which ACLED captures as communal and militia events rather than a single national front. UCDP tracks the civil-war dyads. Humanitarian agencies estimate displacement and hunger; figures are estimates compiled under difficult conditions.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
Ethnic Violence in South Sudan
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war in December 2013 when fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of former Vice President Riek Machar split along ethnic lines, primarily between the Dinka and Nuer communities. A second round of conflict followed from 2016 to 2018, culminating in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The peace process has been characterized by partial implementation and recurring political crises. Presidential elections, initially scheduled for 2021 and subsequently postponed multiple times, have not occurred. The Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity includes multiple former armed factions with unresolved tensions over military integration, resource sharing, and political appointments.
Localized violence — including cattle raiding, inter-communal clashes, and politically organized militias — continues across multiple states. Oil revenue, which funds much of the government, is contested between Juba and producing states. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) maintains a significant peacekeeping presence but has limited authority to intervene in political processes.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is South Sudan at war in 2026?
South Sudan has a fragile peace strained by political rivalry and communal violence. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who is involved in South Sudan's conflict?
The main parties are the government and former civil-war opposition factions, alongside communal militias.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Is South Sudan still at war?
The large-scale civil war has been paused by a fragile peace deal, but localized and communal violence continues and the political transition remains incomplete.
How is South Sudan's conflict different from Sudan's?
They are separate conflicts in separate countries: Sudan's is the 2023 SAF–RSF war, while South Sudan's stems from its post-independence civil war and a fragile power-sharing peace.
Source provenance
- Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker 8 days · as of 2026-07-29
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-06
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-06 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-07-29 | Juba control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |
| 2026-07-29 | Akobo control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |