Micah Albert | D.C. - California

Reportage: The Other Sudan

Southern Sudan

In early 2005, Sudan's government and rebels from the south officially ended Africa's longest-running war. The 21-year civil conflict killed 2 million people and forced more than 4 million from their homes, according to U.N. estimates.

-Under peace deal, oil revenues to be shared. -Refugees started returning in December 2005-Aid workers cite ongoing violence

Under international pressure, the country's ruling party agreed to split Sudan's massive oil revenues with a southern government led by the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the main rebel group in the south. But some analysts say the agreement is fraught with problems, and getting the south back on its feet is likely to take years, as well as billions of aid dollars. Meanwhile, one of the world's most overlooked humanitarian emergencies continues to fester. A separate conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region and a smaller but potentially explosive conflict in the east threaten to derail the whole peace process. Conversely, without a lasting peace between north and south Sudan, there is unlikely to be a resolution to the Darfur conflict.

For countless generations, cattle have played a central role in the life of many African peoples, such as the Dinka of South Sudan. In the absence of banks, cattle are used as a store of wealth. Some Dinkas will be rich in cattle terms - with hundreds of animals – eating mostly milk as their daily sustenance. Cattle camps are where Dinka culture is passed down to the next generation. 18 year old Paul Maluk starts another routine day with his families cattle.
   
  
KOLMERK, SUDAN - Living his whole life in the cattle camps, Mading Kuay, survived years of Northern bombing raids and famine, living on nothing more than cattle milk and blood.
     
  
KOLMERK, SUDAN - Cooling off from the 128 plus degree heat, these southern Sudanesse boys take a swim from a long day of cow hearding in the regions' cattle camps. In early 2005, Sudan's government and rebels from the south officially ended Africa's longest-running war. The 21-year civil conflict killed 2 million people and forced more than 4 million from their homes, according to U.N. estimates. Under international pressure, the country's ruling party agreed to split Sudan's massive oil revenues with a southern government led by the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the main rebel group in the south.But some analysts say the agreement is fraught with problems, and getting the south back on its feet is likely to take years, as well as billions of aid dollars. Meanwhile, one of the world's most overlooked humanitarian emergencies continues to fester.
   
Part of the culture in Southern Sudan, the Dinka perform scarification as a symbol that they are ready for marriage. The Dinka were hit hardest from a 21-year civil war that ravaged this part of the country killing more than2 million people.
   
Riding his bike to the nearest village, 1 hour away, to buy some beans, sorgum, and rice for his brothers in the cattle camp.
     
  
Even thought war was officially declared over in 2005 with a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, there are still ambushes on SPLA convoys. Requiring them to move with caution. Sitting on the back of a convoy, the troops share a smoke.
   
  
ABEIYE, SUDAN - Survivor of the Sudanese 21 year civil war, Peter stands on a MIG 23 which was shot down by the rebel resistance, SPLA. Shooting down 2 others in this area of Southern Sudan, the SPLA pulled out Chinese pilots in each.
     
  
KOLMERK, SUDAN - Sudanese boy running through the grass as he flees a burning village in Sudan.
   
There are only two seasons in Southern Sudan, hot or rainy. Because the culture is so reliant on cows, they will burn the fields a month before the rain comes so that the grass will release seeds providing extra grass for the cattle. This one is larger than normal and occasionally can threaten village areas.
   
Non-profit working in the region, Empowering Lives International, is beginning basic medical in the region, by starting to de-worm kids.
     
  
In 128 degree's these Southern Sudanese kids take their first drink of water in a new well drilled in an area 100 square miles. The existing wells were poisoned from the Northern Sudanese Army in an attempt to 'cleanse' the Southern region.
   
PADAK, SUDAN - With the peace agreement in effect, the Southern government, or G.O.S.S (Government of Sothern Sudan), is starting to establish a long road ahead of them, public education. This school, the first of its kind in its region is a school started by Empowering Lives International, now has over 120 kids. However, private or not, with 21 years of civil war, the infrastructure is almost non-existent, so getting basic supplies is a challenge. In this case, the kids practice their math in the dirt because they don’t yet have access to paper and pencils.
   
Sudanese boy rides his bike to the market in the war-torn town of Kapoeta, Sudan.
     
  
The daily process of collecting, spreading and flattening the dung in the hot dry sun and then making it into neat piles is cultural trait past down from generation to generation. This process fills the air with smoke and dust as they rub this powdery ash both on themselves and the cows. In doing this, it will help keep away the ever biting tsetse flies, protection from the sun and keep the cows from getting disease from other biting insects. Tending to over 50 cows, 18 year old John says he, “has much respect from others because of his cows.”
   
At an early age the cattle owner will begin to shape the cows horns into a differenciating shape so that he can recognize his cows in a sea of thousands.
   
     
  
Making the unique shape with his arms, John shows me the unique differentiating design represented on all his families cattle. They will begin to shape the cattle horns at an early age to achieve this, and it will act as a kind of brand, making it easy to spot his cattle in a sea of thousands.
   
Walking home over 6 miles from the cattle camp alone, Benjamin hurries as the treat of hyenas are at this time of day are high.
   
KOLMERK, SUDAN - 65 year old Martha Amaal, left her village and friends to sell milk from the cattle camp only to return to find her village destroyed by bombs and her friends dead. Refusing to leave her Sudan, she survived years hiding out in cattle camps while Northern Arab troops occupied the remaining livable huts in her village. Risking her life daily to sneak into occupied villages to bring back any food she could find, she was able to save countless lives.