Promoting Justice in South Sudan

The Institute for Security Studies published in September 2017 a report titled "How the AU Can Promote Transitional Justice in South Sudan" by Amanda Lucey and Liezelle Kumalo.

The African Union (AU) is mandated to help South Sudan to ensure accountability for past human rights abuses through the establishment of a hybrid court. The report suggests ways the AU can more broadly assist in enabling an effective transitional strategy for the country.

South Sudan and the Federalism Debate

The Juba-based Sudd Institute published on 18 May 2017 a policy brief titled "Federalism Debate in South Sudan: Laying the Foundation for Acceptable, Responsive, and Inclusive Governance" by Abraham Awolich.

Some 86 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the current system of government in South Sudan while 83 percent supported the establishment of a federal system of government. They rejected any possibility of returning the country to the former ten states and they were evenly split over the issue of twenty-eight states.

South Sudan's National Dialogue

The Juba-based Sudd Institute published on 31 March 2017 a commentary titled "South Sudan's National Dialogue: What It Should Be and Why It Should Be Supported."

The Sudd Institute concludes that the national dialogue process should be a people-to-people process involving citizens, the state and elites of various political shades. Most important, it should start at the basic level of administrative units where each level sends its delegates and resolutions to a level above it until they reach the national dialogue at the top.

Will South Sudan's National Dialogue Make a Difference?

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 24 March 2017 a commentary titled "South Sudan's National Dialogues: Can the AU Make a Difference?" by Amanda Lucey and Liezelle Kumalo, both researchers at ISS Pretoria.

They conclude that national dialogue offers the hope that President Salva Kiir may finally be willing to make the political process for South Sudan more inclusive. But it could also be viewed as a ruse to deflect attention from implementing South Sudan's latest peace agreement.

South Sudan Peace Process and the AU

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 22 March 2017 a study titled "Democratise or Disintegrate: How the AU Can Help South Sudan" by Amanda Lucey and Liezelle Kumalo, both with ISS.

Southern Sudanese are divided on the legitimacy of the peace process, which is stalled in any event. The report looks at ways the African Union can enhance the prospects for peace in South Sudan.