UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: n/a

First Battle Related Death: 1998-01-09

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1998-01-17
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between SSDF and SSUM/A is first included in UCDP data in 1998. In January of that year clashes between the two groups resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.

Conflict issues

Annual information

This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.

1998

Estimated Fatalities
High	251
Best	249
Low	249

Secondary Warring Support:

Side A (SSDF): n/a

Side B (SSUM/A ): n/a

1999

Estimated Fatalities
High	243
Best	241
Low	241

Secondary Warring Support:

Side A (SSDF): n/a

Side B (SSUM/A ): n/a

Dyad Archive

This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.

1998 Dyad Archive

Comment on Active: Internal fighting within SSDF started in the aftermath of the gubernatorial elections in Unity state in December 1997, when Riek Machar, the top leader of SSDF proposed a candidate, while Paulino Matip, the commander of the local division of SSDF in Unity State (known as SSUM/A) proposed another candidate.

Clashes between the two groups were very violent, fighting taking place mainly in order to secure and control the important oil fields present, as these oil fields brought substantial benefits (in the form of aid from the Sudanese Government) to those in control of the fields.

Terminated: NO

1999 Dyad Archive

Comment on Active: Fighting between SSDF and SSUM/A continued following similar patterns as recorded for 1998, events recorded mainly concerned heavy clashes for the control of oil-rich areas in Unity state. Both factions employed governmental military infrastructure, clashes being reported within the Bentiu army garrison compound. Throughout the year fighting was extremely heavy - in just one incident, on 3 March 1999, over 200 SSDF and SSUM/A members were killed in battle.