SUMMARY

The Gony Dinka and the Thiyic Dinka sections of the Agar Dinka are ethnically close related to each other. Still, the two communities have been rivalries for a long time, and youth’s from the two communities have been in conflict on and off for the last 15 years mainly over cattle. However, these conflicts have traditionally not caused many casualties. In 2011, however, a sharp increase in people killed took place. In addition to ethnic rivalry and a strong desire for cattle various local politicians are believed to play a role in this conflict. Political entrepreneurs often used the tension between the two communities in order to empower themselves.

The non-state conflict between the Gony Dinka and the Thiyic Dinka was first included in UCDP data in 2011. In June of that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.