Conflict in South Sudan

South Sudan has been plagued by a brutal civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions, with violence threatening to spill into neighboring countries, Meanwhile, the international community has failed to work with the competing factions to agree to a sustainable peace agreement, as there is little hope for any lasting peace in the near future.

In this episode, we explore political and military developments that have contributed to the current civil war–including the decades-long conflict against Sudan, independence in 2011, and the collapse of the coalition government in 2013. Since the civil war began in late 2013, the country has been at war as international peace efforts, including the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS), have broken down.

We then look into how peace can be achieved in South Sudan, and how the international community could help foster this peace. In particular, we discuss ways that the US, the UK, Norway, and other stakeholders can more effectively compel major leaders within South Sudan to lay down arms and work toward establishing a more inclusive governance structure.

Dig Deeper

Take a look at some of our favorite articles that we came across while researching this topic:

The United States Must Change Its Failed Policy Toward South Sudan, Atem Malak, International Affairs Review

Spreading fallout: The collapse of the ARCSS and new conflict along the Equatorias-DRC border, Small Arms Survey,

War Crimes Shouldn’t Pay, The Sentry