South Sudan: Women’s Indigenous Institutions are Key in South Sudan’s National Peacebuilding

Nov 6, 2024 | Winnie Bedigen
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South Sudan continues to be featured in international news headlines, most recently in reports about renewed peacebuilding efforts. In May 2024, talks began between the South Sudanese government and rebel groups. These talks were not part of the 2018 agreement ending five years of civil war. The conflict left around 400,000 people dead. The talks resulted in a “commitment declaration” for peace (the content of which has not been released to the public). However, the situation remains precarious. South Sudan’s first Vice President Riek Machar has recently raised concerns about the process. One striking aspect of the negotiated settlement is that men– male politicians, negotiators, and facilitators, dominate it. This raises an important  question: How would the peace process look like, and what would its outcomes be, if it was led by women? Given the extreme fragility of the peace process, will South Sudan ever experience long-term stability and peace?