Is South Sudan another Somalia in the making?
By MACHEL AMOS
For many in South Sudan's troubled Jonglei state, independence has brought only political freedom but is yet to deliver any real peace.
The cumulative effects of internal rebellions, ethnic rivalry, border clashes with Sudan and aerial raids have claimed thousands of lives of innocent civilians in Africa' newest country since independence last July.
Although the army has managed to eliminate leaders of some active rebel groups and forced others to ink deals with the government, the instability still persists.
The Lou-Nuer and Murle, both tribes in Jonglei state, are engaged in a vicious circle of killing, child abduction and cattle raiding. The Dinka Bor are equally at the receiving end of the hostilities.
And while there are no signs of cessation of hostilities in the near future, the escalating revenge attacks have taken the angles of mass destruction.
The Jonglei state government appears overwhelmed, and the central government has not done enough or fast enough.
Individual communities believe that by taking very little action on such brutal ethnic wars, the government may have given a go-ahead.
Some feel the government itself is polarised along the same troublesome ethnic lines.
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