The grassroots nature of counterinsurgent tribal militia formation: the case of the Fertit in Southern Sudan, 1985-1989

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Periodical article

Title:	The grassroots nature of counterinsurgent tribal militia formation: the case of the Fertit in Southern Sudan, 1985-1989
Author:	Blocq, Daniel S.
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Journal of Eastern African Studies (ISSN 1753-1063)
Volume:	8
Issue:	4
Pages:	710-724
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Sudan South Sudan
Subjects:	civil wars militias
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2014.946336
Abstract:	Many counterinsurgent tribal militias emerged during the second civil war (1983-2005) in Southern Sudan. Operating from within tribal area, they were used by the government in its campaign against the SPLA. Existing studies give the impression that formation of these groups was largely a top-down process. Focusing on the rise of the Fertit militia and relying on a series of in-depth interviews with tribal leaders, this article challenges that assumption. The article shows that the emergence of the Fertit militia was principally a grassroots phenomenon stemming from local tensions and conflicts. The article discusses the wider applicability of these insights and, generally, proposes a more nuanced approach to the study of counterinsurgent militia formation. The approach suggests simultaneous attention to State interventions and local interactions. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]