In the aftermath of war, local government in Western Equatoria, South Sudan, set out to formalize urban land to make it more legible, less conflictual, and ready for the state’s vision of tomorrow. But the process proved problematic, and it caused and rekindled countless land disputes. Based on qualitative research at courts, county offices, and contested plots, this paper finds that these disputes were at their root about five competing normative repertoires about land distribution:…
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CSRF Research Repository
The CSRF Research Repository aims to support greater contextual knowledge for policy makers, programme managers, and implementers by providing a searchable repository of research, analysis, and resources, and providing periodic updates on new research and analysis.
Wetlands are under threat globally, declining at a rate three times higher than natural forests. This isreason for concern because healthy wetlands offer a variety of essential services to humans and arecritical ecosystems in the fight against climate change.1 Yet, the governance of wetlands often fallsthrough the cracks of water governance approaches and institutions in charge of managing rivers,lakes or aquifers.2 Emblematic of this is the Sudd Wetlands [Sudd] in South Sudan. Little is knownabout…
This paper examines the current state of women’s participation in organized politics through the lens of young women’s political experiences. It contextualizes women’s participation in party politics in its history and shares findings from conversations with young women about their experiences and challenges in their political work. It finds that young women in politics are doubly marginalized by gender and age. Key recommendations: Collect and publicly avail data on the participation of female youth in…
A literary essay that tells the story of southern Sudan since 1983, and the emergence of a dominant military class in the country, sustained by international support and the indifference of the diplomatic corps. Link to publication
Summary This research paper reflects on the myriad ways in which militarised and criminalised forms of authority in South Sudan, specifically militias and gangs interpret norms around gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). It is founded on extended local fieldwork conducted throughout the first half of 2019 across four field locations, including: Wau Town in Western Bahr el Ghazal State; Yirol East in Lakes State; Ganyiel in Unity State; and the Juba…
This paper is based on findings from more than 600 observations of customary and statutory courts by twenty South Sudanese researchers for the Justice and Security Research Programme (JSRP) from July 2015-July 2016. It identifies key issues for further deliberation based on research in the towns of Nimule, Torit, Rumbek, Yambio, Yei, Wau, and surrounding areas, in Juba town and United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Protection of Civilian Sites (UNMISS PoCs) in Juba and…
With a view to restore order and boost confidence in the money markets, the Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) on 15th December 2015 dropped the fixed exchange rate regime in favor of the floating system in which the value of the South Sudanese Pound against USD is determined by the prevailing market forces. This effectively devalued the currency overnight with the official rate moving from the previous SSP/USD 2.96 to 18.5, the then going rate…
This research paper investigates the motivation, course, consequences and connotation of Kokora, a policy attempted at two different moments in South Sudan relating to decentralization. This examination attempts to look at the lessons of Kokora while underscoring that decentralization for the southern states did not lead to empowerment but the opposite, and in some cases expulsion. Download
This paper (2015) is a review of the Addis Ababa-based, IGAD-led peace process. It focuses on highlighting risks which may stand in the way of an inclusive settlement, including the competition for power, the question of ethnic divides that have fuelled violence, the multiplicity of armed non-state actors; how to include them in a settlement without creating a gargantuan military that could bankrupt the country and remilitarise the situation. Download
This paper argues that the continuation of violence within South Sudan and Sudan and the threat of returning to inter-state war are a result of the failure of the political settlement reached through the CPA. Download
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