Ngundeng's Stick: Fueling South Sudan's Ethnic War

0:00It's March 30th. This is Canada News Today, your AI-powered local news. In South Sudan, a legendary stick called Ngundang Bongs Dang is stirring up the latest violence. This sacred relic from a prophet in 1878, supposedly some in Thunderbolts in battle. Now it's at the heart of the few between President Salva Kier, a dinka leader, an opposition figure Rick Machar, a newer who holds the stick and claims a prophecy naming him the next president. The conflict exploded in 2013 when Kier Kier accused Machar of a coup, sparking a civil war along ethnic lines that killed around 400,000 people. A 2018 peace deal put Machar back as deputy, but that's fallen apart. With fighting so bad, authorities are evacuating towns despite Machar. Being under house arrest for treason, folks on Machar side, especially newer fighters like the White Army Militia, see the war as fulfilling Ngundang's vision.

1:00Historians compare the dang to a speaker's mace, giving spiritual clout. Many say the battles are driven by faith, not just politics, with Eastern newer charging into combat in the prophet's name. The stick's journey is wild, it passed to Ungadang's son, who got shot trying to use it on colonial troops, then ended up as a British trophy until A. Historian bought and returned it to Machar and Juba in 2009 during a big ritual. Even detained, Machar's influence lingers through the dang's mystique, fueling distrust ahead of December elections. What matters most is belief in its power, keeping old hatred alive and peace just out of