Definition → Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon is a South Sudanese politician and the First Vice President of South Sudan since 2020. He has played a significant role in the country's political and military landscape, particularly during and after the civil conflict that erupted in 2013.
Overview → Riek Machar is a prominent political figure in South Sudan, known for his leadership in various armed opposition movements and his role in the country's independence and subsequent internal conflicts. He was a key leader in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) during the Second Sudanese Civil War, contributing to South Sudan's eventual independence in 2011. In 2013, political tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir led to a violent conflict, resulting in a civil war that lasted several years. This conflict was marked by ethnic violence, humanitarian crises, and widespread displacement. Machar served as Vice President briefly in 2016 before being ousted following renewed fighting in Juba. After prolonged negotiations, he returned to Juba in 2020 to resume the position of First Vice President under a power-sharing agreement established by the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Etymology/Origin → The name "Riek" is a common Dinka given name, one of the major ethnic groups in South Sudan. "Machar" is a family name. "Teny Dhurgon" is part of his full name, reflecting naming customs among the Nuer people, to whom Machar belongs. The Nuer are one of the largest ethnic groups in South Sudan.
Characteristics → Machar is associated with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), which he formed after being dismissed from his position as Vice President of South Sudan in 2013. His political base is largely drawn from the Nuer community. Throughout his career, Machar has been both a military leader and a political negotiator. His leadership has been characterized by shifting alliances and repeated ceasefire agreements, many of which have failed. Despite controversies surrounding his role in the conflict, including allegations of involvement in human rights abuses, he remains a central figure in South Sudanese politics as part of the transitional government.
Related Topics →
- South Sudanese independence
- Second Sudanese Civil War
- 2013 South Sudanese Civil War
- Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS)
- Salva Kiir Mayardit
- Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)
- Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO)
- Ethnic conflict in South Sudan
- Nuer people
- Dinka people