African News Explained

Twenty-five thousand armed men from the Nuer tribe in South Sudan marched recently towards Bor, the capital of Jonglei State. They are called the "White Army" and come from a traditional cattle-raising tribe called the Lou. The army's name originates from the ashes they smear on their skin to deter insects. RFI spoke to Paan Luel Wel, a South Sudanese blogger, about who this group is, where they come from, and how they are involved in the mounting ethnic tension in the country.