In this chapter John Young explores the political history of the state in South Sudan. This chapter is part of the book “The Nation State: A Wrong Model for the Horn of Africa” by John Young, John Markakis and Günther Schlee published in March 2021. Download
Entries by John Young
A mere two years after achieving independence, South Sudan in 2013 descended into violent civil war, refuting US government claims that the country’s succession was a major foreign policy success and would end endemic conflict. Worse was to follow when the international community declared famine in 2017. In the first book-length study of the South Sudan civil war, John Young draws on his close but critical relationship with the rebel SPLM-IO leadership to reveal the…
This study follows on from an earlier Small Arms Survey paper by the author (Young, 2015). It begins where the earlier paper left off with the signing of the ARCSS and ends with the first anniversary of the agreement’s collapse in July 2017. Like the earlier study, this research is based on many visits by the author and his assistant to Juba, Greater Upper Nile, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan to carry out interviews with…
This document reviews the literature on the history, organization, and operation of the white army in the context of the civil war that erupted in December 2013. Based on interviews with white army members, it seeks to understand their motivation, their understanding of the civil war and the peace agreement and what they want for the future of South Sudan. Download
Against a background of continuing civil war and failed peace-making, this study attempts to get beyond the public face of the SPLM-IO as represented by those at the peace talks and provide analysis and background of the many dimensions of the SPLM-IO. Specifically, it considers the formation of the SPLM-IO, identifies the organization’s mode of operation and key political and military actors, and reports on its conferences at Nasir and Pagak in formulating its direction…
Argues forcefully that the birth of the independent state of Southern Sudan and the threat of further dismemberment of a rump northern Sudan are due to the failure of the approaches and ideologies of the main Sudanese parties, as well as a deeply flawed US-backed peace process that excludes civil society and other rebel groups. Link to publication
Although the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of January 2005 formally ended the war between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), internal security has remained a major problem for the fledgling southern government. Indeed, internal conflict, rather than the prospect of a return to war between the north and south, poses the biggest threat to the holding of the CPA-stipulated national election in April 2010, the referendum on southern self-determination…
This working paper from 2007 provides an account of the the Nuer ‘white army’ located in central and eastern Upper Nile region. Download
During celebrations commemorating the second anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Government of South Sudan (GoSS) President and Vice-President of the Republic Salva Kiir made clear that the agreement was facing a crisis and there was a growing risk of a return to war. In particular, he blamed Khartoum’s continuing support for Other Armed Groups (OAGs). In light of that assessment, this paper reviews recent developments in the South Sudan security…
This report critically evaluates the mediation model of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the 21 years of Sudan conflict, and offers some alternative approaches for future IGAD led peace processes. It concludes that lessons to be learned from the weaknesses of the Naivasha process include the need for a strong commitment to democratic change and a comprehensive conception of peace. It proposes an alternative approach which is longer, more complex, focuses on process…