Left unprotected, new video shows how southern Sudanese are defending themselves

A short video released this week by Al Jazeera shows how communities in South Sudan being victimized by LRA attacks are forming self-defense militia groups, as neither their own government nor United Nations peacekeepers in the country have been able to protect them:

These South Sudanese defense groups have counterparts formed in the 1990's in northern Uganda (where, like in Sudan, they were also referred to as "Arrow Boys" and defended communities from LRA attacks), though the groups in Uganda were disbanded or integrated into the Ugandan military three years ago. Similarly, in northeastern DR Congo, groups have formed recently in Orientale province to repel LRA attacks.

Though these militias have support from local government officials in South Sudan (and our field research has indicated that even religious leaders often provide them support), there is also reason for concern. The longer such local self-defense groups exist, the more likely they often are to become predatory against the very communities they set out to protect (for instance, see the Mayi-Mayi in DR Congo).