SUMMARY

The Dinka tribe is the largest ethnic group in South Sudan. The Dinka consists of several sub-divisions and sub-groups within these divisions. The groups rely both on cattle herding as well as farming depending on the different seasons of the year. The civil war that broke out in South Sudan in 2013 increased tensions between different groups and tribes all over the country.

The non-state conflict between the Luac Jang Dinka and the Thiyic Dinka was first included in UCDP data in 2015. Tensions between the two groups reportedly increased due to the appointment of a new county commissioner in Tonj East county, Warap state. A combination of these tensions with land conflict and cattle rustling seems to have been what set off the deadly clashes between the two groups in October 2015.