SUMMARY

The Jikany Nuer and the Lou Nuer are two groups that have strong links between each other and it is not uncommon with inter-marriage between the groups. This made the groups co-exist in a good manner until the early 1990s when disputes over land caused tension between the groups. One factor putting the Jikany Nuer and the Lou Nuer into conflict is that the Lou Nuer is geographically disadvantaged when it comes to water resources. The Lou Nuer has to travel away from their area in the dry season to find water for their cattle. If they go west they enter Dinka or Gawaar Nuer area, if they go northeast they will enter Jikany Nuer area and if they travel south they enter Murle area.

An additional reason for Jikany Nuer - Lou Nuer conflict after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 is uneven disarmament. Both the groups have been disarmed to a larger extent than the Murle which has led the groups to flee into safer areas where the risk of being attacked by the Murle is less. This has caused the two Nuer groups to be crowded in areas where circumstances and tensions easily can intensify.

The non-state conflict between the Jikany Nuer and the Lou Nuer is first included in UCDP data in 1993. Between October and December that year, violent clashes between the two groups resulted in over 1000 battle-related deaths.