The Dinka are working towards Dinkanizing South Sudan

September 2, 2025

By Jwothab Othow*

Many South Sudanese from non-Dinka communities believe the Dinka ethnic group aims to dominate South Sudan politically, institutionally, socially, and socioeconomically. This is perceived as the “Dinkanization” of South Sudan, where the Dinka are systematically controlling the government and other institutions, consolidating power and marginalizing other tribes. The current government under President Kiir, who controls most key institutions, exemplifies this ethnic favoritism. For instance, the Dinka have secured control of the presidency, senior government positions, and the national army. President Salva Kiir is an ethnic Dinka from Bhar el Ghazal, and his administration is largely Dinka-dominated.

The Dinka have used their control of the military to expand their power. The Mathiang Anyoor, a Dinka militia, has committed atrocities and displaced non-Dinka populations in 2014 & 2016. In 2019, Dr. Carol Berger accused the government of South Sudan for disenfranchising non-Dinka groups through gerrymandering. This is seen as a deliberate attempt to create a Dinka monopoly on decision-making. Furthermore, non-Dinka communities have been displaced from their ancestral lands by the Mathiang Anyoor, who used violence to seize land for Dinka pastoralists. Dinka elites have also gained economic control over financial institutions and revenue-generating sectors like petroleum to benefit their community.

Tribalism in South Sudan is unfortunately being encouraged at the political level, used by some Dinka elites as a tool for indoctrination and ideology for Dinkanization of South Sudan. As citizens who value our country’s unity and future, we must teach our children to embrace people from all ethnic groups, recognizing that we are all South Sudanese and part of the same human race. It will probably take about two generations of concerted effort from all citizens, across all ethnic groups, working together to truly change our nation. It’s crucial to build strong grassroots movements and civil society to unite our diverse groups against the political elites who exploit ethnic divisions for power and wealth. We need a broad, inclusive coalition built on shared goals to prevent our country from falling apart, especially considering the past twenty years under SPLM leaders, who have used ethnic divisions to their advantage.

To build a critical mass and unite our diverse ethnicities, we must foster understanding through open dialogue and embrace our differences. Long-term, this requires educational initiatives that bring us together to celebrate our cultures and shared values and goals.  Our national institutions need to create inclusive policies in workplaces and schools, guaranteeing fair treatment and equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity. We must hold accountable anyone promoting tribalism and actively dismantle biases and stereotypes in South Sudanese workplaces and schools through diversity training and respectful media representation. South Sudanese citizens have a moral obligation to build a shared vision focused on democratic values, justice, freedom, and human rights, rather than ethnic divisions.

We had enough of President Kiir’s twenty years of rule, marked by absolute failure and a never-ending war that has tragically claimed over 480,000 lives. Our people must be wary of any future leader who disregards our nation’s diversity.To anyone aspiring to lead the Republic of South Sudan after the Kiir era: South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan in 2011 due to the diverse Southern Sudanese people exercising their right to self-determination. The referendum saw 97% of voters vote in favor of independence. If you aspire to lead South Sudan, you must commit these ideals to treat all citizens with respect, dignity, and equality under the law, regardless of their ethnicity. A leader who ignores our nation’s diversity and fails to treat all citizens equally has no place in South Sudan. We must never again allow leaders who divide our society along ethnic lines, driven by greed for power and wealth, like the first President Kiir. Our strength lies in our diversity, encompassing over 64 tribes. Any future leader must be capable of managing this diversity, as it is the foundation of our values and the reason we achieved independence in 2011.

All South Sudanese institutions must embrace inclusivity, involving diverse groups like labor unions, religious organizations, and civil society to build widespread support. This is essential to prevent any attempt to divide South Sudan. These institutions can equally protect citizens’ rights and address community issues. It’s crucial that our national institutions promote positive change within systems and advocate for policy changes, supporting those working towards inclusive governance. We must also counter the regime’s disinformation and propaganda aimed at dividing our people along ethnic lines, exposing their scaremongering and distorted facts on social media. We must overcome internal divisions created by SPLM leaders’ pursuit of power and wealth. South Sudanese from all backgrounds must avoid contradictions. Let us prepare for challenges and work together to overcome the attempt to divide South Sudan. May God bless South Sudan.

*The writer, Jwothab Othow, is an activist and critic of the South Sudan’s authoritarian regime. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..