Introduction
On December 14, 2016, South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, declared the National Dialogue (ND) process and appointed eminent personalities and civil society representatives to lead it. At the time, the second spell of the civil conflict was raging in parts of Upper Nile, Equatoria, and Bahr el Ghazal regions. Numerous attempts by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to salvage the 2015 Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) proved unsuccessful. Likewise, communal conflicts were driving widespread political violence. While the efforts to revitalize the ARCSS were underway, the framers of the ND realized that an elite driven process presented very limited prospects for stability in the country. In such a context, a “people centered” political process seemed more promising. Thus, the principal objective of the ND was to engender sustainable peace and establish national unity in reflection of people’s voices. In his ND declaration speech, President Kiir referenced the ARCSS and the SPLM reunification agreement as an effort in the right direction but cautioned that ‘there remain a number of fundamental issues that require a much broader South Sudanese forum.’ He declared that ‘political settlements have often ignored longstanding grassroots grievances,’ necessitating the institution of the ND.
After nearly 4 years, the ND finally concluded on November 17, 2020, offering broadly appreciated recommendations on a range of state formation and national building matters in South Sudan. This Review, therefore, analyzes the ND by revisiting its merits and public reaction, assessing its achievements, and situating its recommendations in the policy parameters and cultural perspectives of South Sudan.