South Sudan, Sudan, effectively at war, analyst says

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA—When South Sudan gained independence last July, the capital was electrified. Jubilant citizens crowded the streets, flags in hand, faces painted in the national colours of black, red and green to celebrate their newly gained freedom. Parties raged through the night. South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, sat with his northern counterpart — and the ceremony’s guest of honour — Omar al Bashir, who wished the world’s newest country success.

“We fulfil our commitment to help the new state of South Sudan in its first steps, because we want it to succeed, and because its success will be our success,” Bashir said.

Finally, after two decades of bloody civil war that killed nearly two million people, two viable states had been forged.

Today, the jubilation has faded as violence escalates along the disputed oil-rich border that separates the two countries. The mood in the former British colony is no longer conciliatory. Instead, each side is accusing the other of launching attacks as full-blown war looms. Read More