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South Sudan has been at the heart of a relentless civil war for more than 30 years, but its ongoing violence has recently reached a level of unprecedented severity. As armed insurgents continue to clash with the government’s military forces, thousands of civilians have lost their lives and millions remain displaced. Earlier this year, the country experienced a devastating and widespread famine that threatened to starve more than 100,000 people. Even now, as the country…

Humanitarian or development assistance delivered in complex, highly contested and conflict-affected contexts such as South Sudan will inevitably impact on conflict dynamics. These may be positive or negative, direct or indirect, intentional or unintended. Conflict sensitivity is an approach that helps humanitarian and development actors maximise the potential positive, and minimise any potential negative impacts of their interventions on conflict. This document provides context-specific guidance on conflict sensitivity for agencies operating in South Sudan.

As a contribution to IGAD’s efforts to revitalize the peace process in South Sudan, 19 civil society organisations have developed the attached paper (also available online at outlining the conclusions and recommendations that have emerged from many months of engagement on the topic. The paper outlines the main conditions for the success of the revitalization process, along with specific substantive and procedural recommendations. Download  

South Sudan became an independent state in 2011, separating from Sudan following decades of armed conflict. High hopes for South Sudan’s future were soon dashed when fighting broke out in December 2013, and optimism regarding South Sudan’s prospect for peace has now faded. The country is currently facing famine, ongoing conflict, persistent ethnic tensions and severe economic challenges. The humanitarian crisis and continued fighting across the country have led to large-scale forced displacement. This case…

The African Union is mandated to help South Sudan to ensure accountability for past human rights abuses through the establishment of a hybrid court. This mandate is derived from the Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, signed in 2015. The agreement also makes provision for a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and a Compensation and Reparation Authority. In the face of continued violence in South Sudan, how can the African Union…

According to the largely stalled Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) of 2015, a key component of the transitional security arrangement is the establishment of cantonment sites where fighters assemble to await disarmament, demobilization or force integration. The cantonment process was supposed to start soon after the signing of the agreement, but due to enormous delays in the implementation of the transitional security arrangements and the return of conflict in July 2016, the…

The principle of non-refoulement is often regarded as being exclusively applicable in contexts of international cross-border displacement. But while the term refoulement did indeed gain recognition through its inclusion in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, similar concepts can be found in a far more diverse set of legal frameworks whose protection extends well beyond the refugee sphere. This paper explores the principle of non-refoulement in the context of internal displacement, and…

This briefing discusses conditions for success of the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) that is intended to revive the 2015 peace agreement. Download

This briefing note explores the interaction between gender norms of masculinities and femininities, and capacities for peace and conflict in areas that are receiving assistance. The aim of the research on which this publication is based on is to better understand how gender norms, including violent notions of masculinity and gender inequality in Greater Lakes State and Western Equatoria State may be affecting: the scale and the nature of conflict and violence; the roles played…

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