This article examines the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s (GAD’s) mediation in South Sudan. Focusing on the elements of liberal peace and alternative rationalised approaches, the article identifies discrepancies between the two approaches in IGAD’s mediation strategies. It also provides recommendations on how Africa’s regional bodies and mechanisms, such as IGAD, can re-evaluate its peace theory and practice, including considerations on the effectiveness of the declining liberal peace paradigm. Read more here
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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.
Produced by Rift Valley Institute, this report focuses on the long-awaited democratic election in South Sudan. The report finds that there is little incentive to organise democratic election in the country due to several reasons, including limited election investment in the election process as well as the entrenchment of rent extraction among armed actors, and a generalised lack of political will. The report provides some practical steps for organising democratic elections, such as providing safety…
Focusing on the delayed national elections, this report explores ways in which South Sudan could organise and hold peaceful elections in 2026. The report identifies potential for conflict around the elections, rooted in the current challenges and constraints facing the country. The report shares some strategies that can be leveraged to promote more peaceful elections. Read more here
As South Sudan contends with a prolonged political and economic crisis, Kenyan mediators are attempting to broker an agreement between the country’s government and exiled opposition leaders. This article provides reflection on how the talks were progressing. Read more here
This article reflects on the implication of elections on the ongoing peace and transitional process. Exploring the perceptions among South Sudan public of the national elections planned for December 2024, the paper identifies challenges that hamper the holding of election, as well as opportunities to foster peaceful transition. Read more here
Introduction As of June 2024, the future of the transitional process in South Sudan remains uncertain. According to the National Elections Amendment Act (2023), the National Elections Commission (NEC) must announce the date of elections six months in advance, so if elections were to be held in December 2024, the NEC would need to announce it this month, June 2024. That announcement has not taken place, and the parties to the Revitalized Transitional Government of…
With the next general elections set to take place in December 2024, this Review aims to tackle crucial questions around the delineation of new geographical constituencies in line with the recently passed South Sudan’s National Elections Act, 2023. The Review analyses the constituency threshold formula proposed by in the Act and uses the suggested calculation guidelines to construct the possible scenarios for the distribution of geographical constituencies, as well as considering the challenges that come…
This Weekly Review provides an assessment of South Sudan’s National Elections Act, 2023. At only 14 months (at the time of writing) await from the election’s planned date, the Review analyses the National Elections Act (Amendment 2023) passed by the Revitalized National Legislature, its merits and shortcomings. Lastly, the Review provides a series of policy recommendations aimed at supporting the operationalisation of the Act. Read more here
This policy brief presents a summary of findings about citizens’ perceptions of upcoming national elections, from a survey of South Sudanese respondents in 2021-2022. National elections are meant to be the endpoint of South Sudan’s political transition. Data collected before the announcement of the extension of the transitional period demonstrates strong support from South Sudanese respondents for elections in 2023. Findings suggest that although elections are likely to support and sustain the political status quo,…
Although fraught with numerous implementation issues, the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict (RARCSS) has been credited with bringing relative stability to South Sudan since 20181. The Agreement mandated the creation of a Unity Government, setting the stage for the Transitional Period, which is due to end in 2023. The moment of truth for this peace agreement is the holding of elections proscribed for the end of the Transitional Period. Although the elections mandated…
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