SUMMARY

The Dinka are the largest ethnic group in South Sudan and the largest non-Arab ethnic group in Sudan. Traditional Dinka culture follows the flooding and receding of the Nile waters and they live on either side of the White Nile and across Bahr al-Ghazal. The Dinka are mainly pastoralists, but to some extent also rely on farming, depending on the different seasons of the year.

The Dinka consist of several divisions and sub-groups within these. Accordingly, Pakam Dinka is a sub-group of the wider Agar Dinka, which is one of many divisions within the overarching Dinka ethnic group. Agars occupy a relatively large area when compared to other Dinka subgroups; they live predominantly in the Cueibet and Rumbek districts of the Lakes Province of South Sudan. Organized around traditional clan- and subclan- bases, the Agar Dinka are mainly semi-itinerant pastoralists, depending on their cattle stocks for their livelihood. The Agar people were described as relatively prosperous during the 1970s, with Rumbek becoming a trading center of some importance. However, the intrastate armed conflict fought in southern Sudan (now South Sudan) took its toll on the community, destroying vital infrastructure, and gravely affecting the Dinka Agar (see Government of Sudan – SPLM/A) for more information. Moreover, this was coupled with infighting inside the Agar leadership in the 1980s and 1990s between various clan leaders, which further scarred the community. More recently, cattle-raids and revenge attacks involving the Pakam Dinka have occurred between Agar Dinka sub-groups.

The Pakam Dinka have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.