Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series on rebel groups in Central Africa. Part I examined recent moves toward peace and stability in Chad and the Central African Republic. Part II examines ongoing instability in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
While Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) are dismantling rebel groups and moving toward greater stability, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are continuing on a violent path.
On July 9, Sudan will become two nations. The Republic of Southern Sudan, which will enter independence as one of the poorest countries in the world, faces an estimated seven rebel movements against the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). These rebels, angered by the SPLM's political hegemony, have caused hundreds of casualties in recent months. If instability worsens in south Sudan, neighboring countries could see an influx of refugees or even a spillover of violence.