Status of the UN Mission in South Sudan

 The Stimson Center published on 24 June 2026 a report titled "The UN Mission in South Sudan in the Context of Changing Security and Regional Dynamics."

The report concludes that the combined effects of a fragile peace process, heightened political tensions, economic deterioration, the spillover of conflict from Sudan, the emerging Ebola crisis in the neighboring DRC, and growing humanitarian pressures have created a volatile environment in South Sudan.

South Sudan continues to grapple with unresolved questions surrounding the political transition and the lack of implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which remains the primary political framework for addressing the conflict and advancing sustainable peace.  

Status of UN Security Council Mandate in South Sudan (in English and French)

 The International Peace Institute, Security Council Report, and Stimson Center published in February 2021 a report titled "Prioritization and Sequencing of Security Council Mandates: The Case of UNMISS" by Victoria K. Holt and Julie Gregory.  

Nearly one year after the creation in South Sudan of a transitional government in February 2020, the main pillars of the June 2018 permanent cease fire and September 2018 peace agreement continue to hold, but their implementation has progressed at a worryingly slow pace.

The report is also available in French.  

Is South Sudan Transitioning to Peace

The US Institute of Peace published on 19 March 2020 an analysis titled "South Sudan's Transition: Citizens' Perception of Peace" by Jan Pospisil, Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Oringa Christopher, University of Juba, Sophia Dawkins, Yale University, and David Deng, human rights lawyer.

The authors conclude that the power-sharing government in South Sudan set up last month is fueling hope for an end to civil war, but suggest layers of conflict remain.

South Sudan Peace Process: The Politics of Delay

The Conflict Research Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science published on 2 December 2019 a paper titled "South Sudan: The Politics of Delay" by Alex de Waal, Alan Boswell, David Deng, Rachel Ibreck, Matthew Benson and Jan Pospisil.

The authors conclude that the single most important concern during the current 100 day delay in the peace process is maintaining the ceasefire in South Sudan; a slow political process is far preferable to a return to war. A close second is maintaining forward motion in addressing the governance issues facing the country; continued discussion is better than a lurch into authoritarianism. The 100 day delay should be seen by international policy makers as an opportunity for advancing consultation and strengthening action towards a peace agenda.

South Sudan: The Perils of Payroll Peace

UK Aid and the London School of Economics and Political Science published in March 2019 a paper titled "South Sudan: The Perils of Payroll Peace."

Payroll peace is the practice of putting large numbers of soldiers and civil servants on the state payroll as an incentive for them, and the belligerent parties, to accept a peace agreement. This has become standard practice in South Sudan. The paper argues that at best it is corruption, at worst it is violently explosive.

South Sudan: A Violent Kleptocracy

The Enough Project published in February 2019 a report titled "A Hijacked State: Violent Kleptocracy in South Sudan" by Brian Adeba and the Enough Project team.

The report outlines the argument for why governance in South Sudan has evolved into a system of violent kleptocracy, and how for lasting peace to have a chance in South Sudan it is critical that policies focus on exposing, undermining, and ultimately dismantling that violent kleptocratic governing system.

South Sudan: Armed Groups and Mediation

The Institute for Security Studies published in December 2018 a report titled "Compound Fractures: Political Formations, Armed Groups and Regional Mediation in South Sudan" by David Deng, South Sudanese/US human rights lawyer.

The author concludes that although IGAD was ultimately successful in brokering an agreement among the conflicting parties, the mediation has struggled with major challenges throughout the conflict, including the zero-sum thinking of the warring parties, which remain committed to military solutions and unwillingness to compromise. This has led to the rise of various armed opposition groups in recent years.

South Sudan: What Is Impact of Peace Agreement on Refugees and IDPs?

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) posted on 9 January 2019 a commentary titled "South Sudan: 'Whose Power Are They Sharing Anyway?'" by Omar Mahmood, ISS Addis Ababa, and Thijs Van Laer, International Refugee Rights Initiative in Uganda.

South Sudan's 2.5 million refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are frustrated about the IGAD peace process and feel left behind. The authors argue that refugees and IDPs must be properly informed about the peace deal and more closely connected to its implementation and monitoring.

South Sudan: What Do refugees Think?

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 6 December 2018 a report titled "Nobody Came to Ask US: South Sudanese Refugee Perceptions of the Peace Process" by Omar S. Mahmood, ISS Addis Ababa.

The report presents the findings of refugee interviews in Ethiopia and Uganda. Understanding and incorporating their views into the peace process is crucial to ensuring that the needs of this large group is considered. All respondents expressed a desire to return to South Sudan but were frustrated by a lack of reliable information on the peace process.

South Sudan: Conditions for Achieving Peace

The Institute for Security Studies published on 10 December 2018 a report titled "Compound Fractures: Political Formations, Armed Groups and Regional Mediation in South Sudan" by David Deng, a South Sudanese/US human rights lawyer.

The author argues that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) will only succeed if political and military leaders convince the population of South Sudan and the broader international community that they are committed to transforming the way politics is done.