SUMMARY

The SPLM/A - In Opposition first use of one-sided violence quickly followed the outbreak of the statebased conflict in South Sudan in mid-December 2013. When the fighting started on 15 December 2013 between the SPLM/A - IO and government forces, civilians from the respective ethnic group was targeted. The leader of the rebellion, Riek Machar, was from the Nuer community, whereas the president, Salva Kiir, was Dinka. However, not only the Dinka community was attacked by the SPLM/A - IO, but also other civilians that the rebels suspected gave support to the government.

During the following years that the intrastate conflict in South Sudan took place the SPLM/A - IO targeted and killed civilians on several occasions. One of the largest and most notorious attacks took place in a mosque in the town of Bentiu where hundreds of civilians had taken shelter in 2014. Fighters from the SPLM/A - IO attacked the mosque and killed nearly 300 civilians.

SPLM/A - IO first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2013, when the one-sided violence resulted in more than 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in mid-December of that year when the group's attacks against civilians had resulted in more than 100 deaths.