SUMMARY

The conflict between the two ethnic groups of the Lou Nuer and the Murle has been one of the most violent non-state conflicts in the world. Both groups live in Jonglei state in South Sudan and are cattle-herders. A historic animosity exists between the groups as they have been competing over cattle, pastoral, and water. This animosity has been heavily used by different political elements for their own purposes. During the conflict between SPLM/A and the Sudanese government such ethnic tensions were used by the government (see the Government of Sudan - SPLM/A conflict). Also, other politicians (local as well as central) have used the tensions between the two ethnic groups in order to empower themselves.

The non-state conflict between Lou Nuer and Murle was first included in UCDP data in 2006. By the end of May that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in 150 battle-related deaths.