Current Events Assignment #4

Title of current event:
Gettlemen, Jeffrey "Ethnic Killings Fray Unity Marking Birth of South Sudan"

Source of current event: http://www.nytimes.com/

This article is about mass murder caused by ethnic conflict. For many years there has been a civil war in the south. the article talks about how " billions of dollars " have been invested in South Sudan by the united states and other western countries.  This investment is not for the benefit of the new country (South Sudan). This investment is to create a "Stable, Western - friendly nation in a unsteady region".  South Sudan used to be part of the country known as Sudan. South Sudan  became an independent nation in July 9, 2011.  The country of Sudan was imperialized first by the Egyptians in 1820 (The Egyptians controlled Sudan from 1899 to 1955. As long as the British controlled Sudan, they put political and economic structures in place that never existed.  The Sudan has always been split between its Arab and Muslim heritage in the north and its African culture in the south.  Now it looks like their differences have formed into a official border in the world map.

This article is mainly wrapped around the rivalry between two ethnic groups, the "Murle" and the "Nuer" fighting each other. This article discusses a social and political issues, but I think there is an economic angle.  There is a social issue due to all of the tension between the two different ethnic groups. No new country can last if its people are killing off one another. This is a political element.  The United States have invested billions of dollars. Why? The South Sudan has almost 80% of the former Sudan's oil output. (C.I.A World Fact Book) These people have hated each other for centuries, so any solution won't be quick. Empower the U.N (United Nations) troops more aggressively in protecting the victims (the murels).  They should also work on the infrastructure, and they should keep the control of the oil with the South Sudan people.  These are just some suggestions, but the South Sudan people might want to build on these suggestions if they want to be a successful, independent country.