South Sudan's two predominant and most populous tribes, the Dinka and Nuer were longtime rivals who had battled over land and resources since at least the 19th century. As herders most historical inter-communal conflicts between these two communities are necessitated by geographic and not necessarily political factors. Often the two communities fought over dwindling cattle grazing land and water-points precipitated by drought and ecological degradation.
It has been estimated that most Nuer living on the east of the Nile were originally Dinka or descended from them. Dinka and Nuer connected to each other either through adoption, marriage, and cultural assimilation. Their identity depended on kinship affiliation as much as language. They share a significant amount of vocabulary.
It has been estimated that most Nuer living on the east of the Nile were originally Dinka or descended from them. Dinka and Nuer connected to each other either through adoption, marriage, and cultural assimilation. Their identity depended on kinship affiliation as much as language. They share a significant amount of vocabulary.