SUMMARY

The Dinka are the largest non-Arab ethnic group in Sudan and the Dinka language is the first language for about one tenth of the Sudanese population. In southern Sudan (South Sudan after its independence in 2011) the Dinka is the largest ethnic group. They are mainly cattle pastoralists who live on either side of the White Nile and across Bahr al-Ghazal. Traditional Dinka culture follows the flooding and receding of the Nile waters.

The Gok subgroup of the Dinka is one of the many subgroups of the Dinka people, mainly inhabiting the western part of the Cueibet and Rumbek North districts of Lakes state in South Sudan. Organized on traditional clan- and subclan- bases, the Gok Dinka are mainly semi-itinerant pastoralists, depending on their cattle stocks for their livelihood.

Traditionally, while the Gok Dinka were never as prosperous as other Dinka subgroups, they were at relative peace with other co-inhabiting tribes – intermarriages between Gok Dinkas and Agar Dinkas or Jur Chol people being described as frequent. A series of droughts combined with the conflict in South Sudan, raging for over 20 years and devastating the infrastructure in the area, however, led the Gok Dinkas to turn to arms.

The Gok Dinka have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.