The Foreign Desk Explainer 502: The two-man rivalry fuelling South Sudan’s civil war
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Jan 28, 2026 A brutal command to "spare no one" and what that reveals about escalating violence. The rise of General Johnson Olony and the Agwilek militia being folded into formal forces. How a bitter two-man power struggle drives ongoing civil war. Recent moves by Riek Machar and shifting frontlines in Jonglei state.
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Perpetual Post-Independence Instability
- South Sudan has never been at peace since independence in 2011 and split from Sudan.
- Its history includes full-scale civil war, huge casualties, displacement and chronic instability.
Olony's Brutal Public Order
- General Johnson Olony ordered troops to "spare no one", naming civilians and even chickens.
- He leads the Agwilek militia which only integrated into the national army last year.
Two-Men Rivalry Drives Conflict
- South Sudan's conflict centers on a rivalry between Salva Kiir and Rick Mashar similar to Sudan's two-man struggle.
- Personal power struggles shape alliances, militias and recurring outbreaks of violence.