The Stream

#ListenToSouthSudan trends as violence continues

Twitter users call for action against ethnic violence in world’s youngest country.

Kenyans are demanding world leaders #ListenToSouthSudan and take action against ethnic clashes plaguing the country. 

Thousands have been killed and more than 1 million South Sudanese have fled their homes since fighting began in December between troops supporting President Salva Kiir and rebel soldiers loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. The clashes are fueled by ethnic tensions between Kiir’s Dinka tribe and Machar’s Nuer. 

According to the UN, rebel troops killed hundreds based on ethnic origins after overrunning Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing Unity state, last week. The UN, US and others have condemned the attack. Machar has said his forces were not behind the massacre. 

#ListenToSouthSudan is trending in Kenya with more than 9,000 uses so far. Others also used #SouthSudanWar to draw attention to the conflict: