The Changing Dynamics of Insecurity in South Sudan: The Evolution of the Security Challenges Facing the World’s Newest Nation Since the Second Sudanese Civil War.

Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Political Science
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Haverford users only
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
This paper aims to provide an overview and history of the north‐south conflict that erupted following Sudanese independence in 1956, the bases of this tension and violence, and the changing security dynamics in South Sudan pre and post independence. More specifically, it attempts to answer the question: has the security of a sovereign South Sudan and its citizens, in terms of northern aggression and domestic violence, improved since July 9, 2011? The type of fighting that encapsulated Sudan throughout its civil wars can be characterized as organized, ethnoreligious violence. This term is generally used to define big state wars between national security forces, such as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). However, organized violence dwindled as South Sudan moved closer to and then into independence while communal violence ‐ localized conflicts frequently revolving around access to livelihood resources between non‐state groups that are organized along a shared communal identity ‐ steadily increased. This violence is often the consequence of the failures of the justice system and security forces, cattleraiding, unemployment, the dowry economy, and the proliferation of small arms in the south. If civilians cannot depend on their own national security forces and government for protection or accountable for their failures, it is quite possible that the south will descend into a system of tribal militias taking matters into their own hands and the vicious cycle of intra‐state violence continuing. Progress in the new country is already starting to be made, as Presidents Bashir and Kiir recently negotiated to re‐open the borders and re‐start the flow of oil, and over 3,000 Darfuri rebels just turned in their weapons – in exchange for amnesty from the north ‐ and are currently being integrated into the southern forces. These positive strides are heartening and give credence to the euphoria with which the citizens of the world’s newest state voted for independence, although there is still much to be done for South Sudan to be considered a legitimate and viable state.
Description
Citation