Central Afraican Republic conflict - Part.1

South Sudan and Ethiopia, two neighboring countries in East Africa, have shared a historically complex relationship shaped by ethnic ties, migration, and regional politics. Before the recent tensions, the two nations maintained relatively cordial relations, with Ethiopia playing a significant role as a mediator in South Sudan’s internal peace processes. Ethiopia, under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), helped broker peace agreements during South Sudan’s civil wars. However, ethnic dynamics, particularly involving cross-border communities such as the Nuer and Anyuak, and competition over resources like grazing land and water, have long simmered under the surface.

Tensions began to rise in 2020 when sporadic violence erupted along the shared Gambella–Upper Nile border, particularly involving South Sudanese armed youth groups and Ethiopian militias. The conflict was fueled by ethnic grievances, arms proliferation, and weak border governance. Reports of attacks on civilians, cattle raids, and retaliatory killings increased, prompting displacement and insecurity. In response, both countries deployed military forces to stabilize the region, though coordination and trust remained limited. The situation was further complicated by Ethiopia’s internal conflict in Tigray, which strained the country’s military resources and heightened regional instability.

Currently, while full-scale warfare between the two nations has been avoided, the border remains volatile. Cross-border attacks and banditry continue to pose challenges, particularly in areas with limited state presence. Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions have been intermittent, with both governments expressing a desire to maintain peace but facing internal challenges that hinder sustained cooperation. Humanitarian conditions in the affected regions remain dire, with displacement, lack of access to aid, and ongoing insecurity threatening lives and livelihoods. The situation requires renewed regional dialogue and stronger mechanisms for conflict prevention and border management.