"Price of Independence" - A young Dinka man in a cattle camp near Akot, South Sudan, keeps his AK-47 close.
Photo of a young Dinka man in a cattle camp in Eastern Rumbek, South Sudan. He keeps his AK-47 close. This photo depicts the commonality of weaponry, even in remote cattle camps like this one in South Sudan. South Sudan has endured generations of civil war - a Comprehensive Peace Agrement between the Government of Sudan in Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was signed only in January 2005. When I lived in South Sudan in 2005-2006, ordinary people - men, women, and children - carrying their AK-47s in the market or on the main road through town was a common sight. Given this context, gunfights between men who had been drinking - or among families during civil disputes - were also "normal." Particularly in ethnic Dinka areas, where Dinka sub-tribes traditionally clash, carrying AK-47s and other guns is a simple means of protection. Title: "Price of Independence" At the time of this photo - November 2005 - the SPLM authorities in Rumbek were conducting a demobilization campaign. Just after I took this photo, this young man was disarmed and his AK-47 claimed by the local police commissioner for Eastern Rumbek County. I was surprised at how calmly the young man gave up his weapon. Despite the targeted demobilization, guns remain common, especially in more rural areas.
Size: 3525px × 4787px
Location: Near Akot, Eastern Rumbek, Lakes State, South Sudan
Photo credit: © Irene Abdou / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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